This is the time of year when homeowners are looking forward to warmer weather and the end of winter. March is the official start of spring. Although it may not feel like summer yet, it is coming soon.
This month is the best time for spring HVAC maintenance. It is important to maintain your HVAC system as you prepare to turn off the furnace and your air conditioner for the summer. Your heating and cooling system's performance and longevity will be improved by regular maintenance. Avoiding costly repairs or inconvenient breakdowns can help reduce the chance of them happening. Warranty coverage can be affected if you fail to take proper care of your new HVAC system.
These are 10 simple spring HVAC maintenance that homeowners can follow to ensure their system is in peak condition for spring.
The exterior unit may have been clogged with debris from the winter and fall. Make sure you clean up the area around your HVAC system before you start any spring landscaping projects. Clean up the two-foot area around it. You can also trim any bushes or plants growing around it. To clean the coils of winter grime, you can use a simple vacuum attachment or garden hose. Clearing the coils will allow them to cool down without causing unnecessary stress.
To ensure maximum performance in the summer heat, you will want to make sure the outdoor unit is on a level surface. You can also visually inspect the condenser to see if it has suffered any damage during winter. If you notice anything unusual, call your local HVAC technician. When it's time to turn on your air conditioner, a damaged condenser can be a problem.
A professional duct cleaning is a great way to have quality indoor air. It is a good idea to clean the ducts before you turn on the air conditioner. It will get rid of any dust, mold, and other allergens that have accumulated over winter. It will also help allergy sufferers remove spring pollen from their home's air systems. We recommend homeowners schedule duct cleaning services every five to seven years.
Regularly changing your HVAC system's filter is a must. Filters that are dirty can restrict airflow and encourage mold growth. Old filters can also cause heating and air conditioning systems to work harder and use more energy. Keep things running smoothly by changing the filter every 30 to 90 days.
Our professional HVAC maintenance advice: you can do much more than replacing the filter. You might also consider upgrading your filter. A pleated filter can be used by homeowners to improve the air quality and system performance. These filters are a step above the standard filter and have an electrostatic charge that attracts bacteria and dust particles and traps them inside.
Make use of technology to ensure your HVAC unit runs at its peak efficiency. A programmable thermostat can not only reduce your energy bills but can also extend the life of your HVAC system. Your system will experience less stress throughout the year by optimizing the temperature throughout the week and day.
Take in the freshness of spring. The HVAC system can be turned off for a few weeks to improve the air quality in your home. Open the windows when the temperature is at its sweet spot, which is when neither heat nor cool. Fans inside your home can increase airflow and circulation. Taking in fresh air and sunlight is good for your health.
It doesn't matter how well your HVAC system is maintained -- if it isn't well sealed, it will struggle to cool your home. When you are doing spring HVAC maintenance around your home, be aware of any areas where air could escape. You should inspect the weather stripping around your windows and door jambs as well as the seals around the doors. You should replace weather stripping and seals that are cracked, damaged, or missing. The home's envelope should be sealed tight to prevent any temperature fluctuations. This will reduce the workload and enable your HVAC unit's efficiency in the winter and summer.
It's important to prevent unpleasant surprises later in spring when temperatures rise. Before it gets too hot, make sure that your air conditioner is working. Set your thermostat to a temperature a few degrees below the current indoor temperature. Wait for your HVAC unit to turn off. Allow it to turn on. Next, make sure cool air is flowing from the vents throughout the house. Listen out for unusual noises or clicking as the unit runs. You can schedule an appointment with your HVAC technician if the unit isn't working as it should.
Schedule an HVAC inspection at least once a year. Certified technicians will test the airflow and output and check the refrigerant levels. They will also tighten all electrical connections and hoses. The tech will also inspect key components such as the compressor, tubing, and fan blades for wear and tear.
Spring HVAC maintenance is essential to keep your system running smoothly for as long as possible. You can save a lot of time and money by replacing or repairing a part right away. Call Ingersoll's Air Conditioning and Heating Inc. at (251) 928-9392 for professional, reliable advice about how to prepare your HVAC unit in time for the season. For HVAC system services, you can request a quote online.
It's great to go outside and get fresh air, however, you can only do so when the weather permits. It's even more enjoyable to be able to get fresh air inside your home. To make this happen, however, you must be conscious of the indoor air quality in your home and make an effort to maintain it.
The EPA estimates that the average American spends 90% time indoors -- where pollutants are two to five times more prevalent than outdoors. The health of an individual's body can be directly affected by air pollutants. These can have long-term or immediate consequences. Poor indoor air quality can have immediate and temporary effects. The symptoms of immediate air pollution effects can look like common viruses such as headaches, congestion, and coughing. Therefore, poor indoor air quality is often ignored. The delayed effects of air pollution can be fatal and severe for those most vulnerable, such as the elderly and children with weak immune systems. Many delayed effects don't show up until it is too late, so it is important to maintain good indoor air quality.
What Causes Indoor Air Pollution?
Many homeowners don't know they have pollutants in their homes. They can be difficult to detect with the naked eye. Poor indoor air quality can be caused by a variety of factors, such as formaldehyde and new furniture, paint on walls, poor insulation, cleaning chemicals, and lead. Clean air is essential because, although we know how dangerous pollutants can be, it's not known how people will react to them or what their consequences will be.
Why should you care so much about indoor air quality?
Simply put, everyone should be concerned about the quality and quantity of the air they inhale. This applies not only to the outside world but also inside their homes. Your indoor air quality may be more important than that of the outside because you spend more time and sleep in your home.
As any doctor will tell you, breathing in clean, fresh air is good for your overall health. Contrary to popular belief, breathing in dirty, dusty air can be detrimental to your overall health. Poor quality air can lead to asthma, allergies, and other health problems.
A cleaner environment with a lower level of impurities can improve mental clarity. Poor air quality in your home could cause difficulty with concentration.
How can you improve your home's air quality?
You now know the dangers of poor indoor air quality. Now you want to know how you can fix it. It is now easier than ever for you to improve the indoor air quality in your home thanks to continuous advancements in HVAC technology.
Tip #1
A great place to start is duct cleaning. If you have centralized air, this service will clean your ventilation ducts. These ducts can become clogged with dust, dirt, and dander over time. All of these contaminants can be removed by duct cleaning. This involves cleaning the ducts and then collecting them with a vacuum.
Tip #2
People with sensitive allergies or concerns about contracting illnesses can have UV lights installed in air ducts. The intense frequency of ultraviolet light waves destroys microscopic bacteria, mold spores, and insects. A Duke University study showed that 97% of the bacteria that are susceptible to UV light could be eliminated in a hospital setting.
Tip #3
Dryer Vent Cleaning is an important task!
While we're on the subject of improving the air quality and safety in your home, we want to pay attention to the dryer's vents. The dryer's lint trap captures lint, which prevents a dryer fire. The majority of laundry lint produced in an average load of laundry avoids the trap and ends up in the air conduit that runs between your dryer and the exterior wall of your house.
Worst-case scenario: The lint from the air duct could block the duct completely, trapping heat every time the dryer turns on. The trapped air can get so hot that it ignites the Lint and causes a house fire. You should have your dryer vent cleaned a minimum of once per year to prevent this dangerous situation from occurring in your home. Two to three dryer vent cleanings might be required for households that do laundry multiple times per week.
To Improve Indoor Air Quality, Contact Ingersoll’s Refrigeration Air Condition & Heating Inc
It is important to evaluate the condition of your home's indoor air quality. You show that you care about your family's safety and health by making efforts to improve indoor air quality. An energy audit can help you feel more confident, even if you don't think your home has poor indoor air quality. A professional HVAC company can help you take control of your indoor air quality and reduce the risk to your health.
You can get additional assistance in improving indoor air quality in Fairhope, Alabama & Baldwin County by contacting Ingersoll’s Refrigeration Air Conditioning & Heating Inc. There are many ways to improve the air quality in your home. We can seal your ducts and remove contaminants from your home.
Contact us today at 251-928-99392 to learn how we can reduce the contaminants in your home's air during spring.
