When we talk about spring cleaning around the house this time of year, we shouldn’t forget a few simple checks to our HVAC equipment that will ensure everything is in top shape.

Follow this simple check-list as part of your seasonal home maintenance.

1. Check your air-conditioning and heating equipment before the beginning of a new season. It’s best get your AC inspected and cleaned after the temperature has been over 15°C for a few days. Before that the tech will not get an accurate reading.
2. Check and replace your furnace and air-conditioning filters. There are several types to choose from, depending on your needs. Fiberglass filters last only one month, while MERV media cleaner filters last six months to a year. Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) is a standard that rates the overall effectiveness of air filters. Higher value MERV rating equates to finer filtration, meaning fewer dust particles and other airborne contaminants can pass through the filter.
3. Most air conditioners have a drainage hole on the base of the cabinet, beneath the evaporator fins. This hole needs to be kept clear in order for the air conditioner to work properly. It’s a good idea each spring to use a paper clip or wire to poke through the hole and clear it.
4. To keep your dehumidifier working properly, remove its housing and let the unit dry completely. Vacuum every accessible surface and change the wetting pad ever six months to a year.
5. Replace the batteries in smoke and carbon-monoxide detectors twice a year: when the time changes to daylight savings time and then back to standard time.
6. Inspect and, if necessary, caulk around your home’s windows and doors annually. That will help keep out heat and humidity in the summer and cold drafts in the winter—and save money on your utility bills all year round.

If you have any questions or for repair and other maintenance issues that can’t be addressed with a simple cleaning and inspection, give us a call! We’re happy to help.