Spring Maintenance Checklist
Spring sure took its sweet time getting here, but it’s finally starting to warm up (and mostly stay that way). Pretty soon it’ll be barbeques, sunshine, and pleasant evenings. But before you run off to enjoy the season there are some things you need to do—namely for your AC system. Spring in Cincinnati tends to be wonderful, but it’s also quite short. Then it’ll be summer, and you’ll need every edge you can get to beat the heat.
Schneller Knochelmann Plumbing, Heating & Air is here to help! Follow along with this simple spring maintenance checklist and you’ll be well on your way to an efficient and effective air conditioner this year.
Need some help getting your cooling system set up for success? Contact the certified HVAC professionals at Schneller Knochelmann Plumbing, Heating & Air online to set an appointment!
Your Quick Guide to Homeowner AC Maintenance
Now, for the most part, you’ll want a professional to handle your AC maintenance needs. Routine inspections, tuning, and calibrations from a pro go a every long way in keeping breakdowns to a dead minimum and optimizing the efficiency of your system. But there are some great practices you can handle all on your own that will give an appreciable boost, too, including:
- Changing your air filter. And buy extras! Changing the filter frequently (every 1-2 months) will ensure the system maintains effective air flow. Essentially it means the system will deliver air more effectively, cutting down on its workload, avoiding overheats, and keeping your energy costs as low as possible.
- Cleaning and maintaining the outdoor unit. Give the outdoor unit a good brushing to loosen and remove any stuck on dirt, grime, and road salt left over from the long winter. Keeping the outdoor unit free of debris helps it do its job—thermal transfer—which will not only aid in efficiency and power, but will also avoid one of the most common causes for AC repair.
- Inspecting your condensate drain system. Nothing too fancy, since a deep issue would be hard to spot with the naked eye. An expert will do the heavier lifting here, but locating and inspecting the drain hose for signs of a clog can keep you away from another cause for breakdowns. We also recommend that you keep doing this throughout the season.
- Giving it a test run. On a warmer day, go ahead and kick the unit on at a steady 70 degrees setting. Your mission is to listen for any odd noises and to check the supply vents to ensure everything is going as planned. You do this because this is the time you want to find a problem, if there is one. Not on the first scorcher of the summer!