When the weather starts to warm up, you want to keep your home cool and comfortable. Of course, nobody wants to turn on the air conditioner only to discover it isn’t working. Maintenance is essential for keeping your HVAC unit in working order. Check out these easy summer maintenance tips to help keep your home cool when temperatures soar.
1. Change the Air Filter
The easiest thing you can do for your unit, not to mention one of the best, is to look into HVAC air filters Richmond and change your old one out for a new one. Over time, the old filter becomes clogged with dirt and other debris that the system tries to suck in. The more clogged it becomes, the harder the unit has to work. It will have trouble keeping the home cool, not to mention raise your energy bill since it’s working so hard. Keeping the air filter clean or changing it out every 30-60 days is essential for energy savings and comfortable temperatures.
2. Keep Vents Free of Clutter
It might seem like a silly thing to consider, but the more clutter or furniture that’s around your indoor vents, the harder your air conditioner will need to work to keep the rooms cool. Push heavy pieces of furniture, such as couches or beds, away from the vents and ensure they aren’t clogged with dust, pet hair, small toys, or other debris. This way, air can flow more freely.
3. Clean the Outside of the Unit
The outside of your HVAC unit needs to stay clean as well. Sometimes, simply mowing the lawn around the unit is not enough. If there are old leaves, twigs, or weeds clogging up the unit, you’ll need to pull them free. This will help the air to flow better. If you have children who play outside, make sure they keep toys away from the unit as well.
4. Have a Professional Look at the Unit
If you’ve changed the filter and ensured everything is clean and free of debris but still feel the unit is underperforming, it’s time to call a professional. An HVAC technician can perform more detailed maintenance and will be able to tell if there are any repairs necessary.
The best time to maintain your HVAC unit is before it starts to get hot enough for air conditioning. This way, you’ll have time to fix any problems that may arise. Always use products recommended by the manufacturer and only work with reputable technicians.