Spring is the Perfect Time for HVAC Maintenance
This past winter has been colder than average, making many Delaware-area residents yearning for warmer weather again. It’s no surprise then that many homeowners are beginning their spring cleaning shores a bit earlier this year. But before you get on with the nitty gritty, it’s important to be sure you include HVAC maintenance on your spring cleaning list.
Properly maintaining your HVAC equipment can help prevent future malfunctions and problems, as well as the unwanted costs that go along with them. It’s a good idea to have a professional HVAC contractor come for annual pre-season check-ups to ensure the best procedures are followed. A typical HVAC maintenance check-up list should include:
- Set new thermostat settings: Check to be sure your system is set to keep you comfortable while you are home, and save you energy when you are not.
- Tighten electrical connections: Faulty electrical connections can reduce the life of your equipment and lead to unsafe operation.
- Lubricate moving parts: A lack of proper lubrication can cause friction in your motors. This leads to increased working, which leads to increased electricity-use and higher energy bills.
- Check the condensate drain: A plugged condensate drain in your furnace, air conditioner, and/or heat pump can cause water damage and negatively impact indoor humidity levels.
- Check system controls: It is important to be sure that your HVAC equipment is able to be safely started, operated, and turned off.
For your spring and summer cooling equipment:
- Clean evaporator and condenser coils: Dirty coils cut down on the effectiveness of your cooling equipment, leading to high energy costs and shorter equipment lifespans.
- Adjust AC refrigerant levels as needed: Both too much and too little refrigerant makes cooling equipment less efficient.
- Clean and adjust blower components: Proper airflow is good both for your comfort and your pocketbook. Restricted airflow can lower your system’s energy efficiency by as much as 15 percent.
To learn more about proper HVAC maintenance procedures, or to schedule an appointment with a qualified technician, contact local HVAC experts at Sobieski Services, serving Wilmington and surrounding Delaware, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and New Jersey areas.
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