Don’t Forget Your HVAC System During Spring Cleaning

Spring comes early in Florida but if you’ve already done your spring cleaning this year, don’t assume you’re all set. Many homeowners forget that HVAC spring cleaning is also necessary – that is, if you want your cooling system to operate efficiently and effectively throughout our long cooling season. Take these HVAC spring cleaning steps:

• The easiest and perhaps most important step is checking your cooling system’s air filter and then changing it if it looks dirty or clogged. A clean filter will permit the smooth airflow that’s essential for any forced-air cooling or heating system. It also will prevent dust and other particulates from coating sensitive HVAC components. For instance, if the evaporator coil becomes dirty, the heat-exchange process that plays a vital role in home cooling will be impeded, negatively impacting both comfort and efficiency.
• Inspect the area outside around the A/C or heat pump’s outside unit. If sticks, leaves and other yard debris have accumulated over the winter, it can restrict airflow into the condenser/compressor, which makes it more difficult for the equipment to expel heat into the air. Use a garden hose with a spray attachment to spray down the outside unit.
• Wipe down the blades on your ceiling fan; otherwise, the dust gets scattered around the room during fan operation. While you’re at it, if the fan is set for wintertime operation, with the blades circulating clockwise, make sure to readjust them for summer operation, counterclockwise.
• Inspect weatherstripping on door jams and widow sashes to ensure that it has maintained integrity over the winter, and replace as needed. Look for areas around window frames and along walls where air leaks might have developed, then seal with caulk or spray foam.

Even if you’ve take all of the aforementioned steps, make sure to schedule a spring maintenance tuneup by your trusted HVAC contractor to make sure your A/C delivers efficient and effective cooling until the cold returns late next fall.

To schedule a preventative maintenance visit for the cooling system in your Orlando-area home, please contact us at Rinaldi’s Energy Solutions.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Orlando, Florida and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).

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