Spring is a great time for deep cleaning your house, and this should extend to your HVAC system. Summer will be here before you know it, so it’s important to make sure your equipment is in good repair and ready for the cooling season ahead. Discover our top 8 spring cleaning tips for residential HVAC systems below.
Our Top 8 Tips for Cleaning Your Home’s HVAC System
1. Deep Clean Your Air Return
If you have central HVAC, your air return is the part of your system that draws air in to be heated or cooled. This works somewhat like a vacuum, which means any dust or other particles in your air will get pulled in as well.
While your air filters will collect some of these contaminants, you may still have dirt around the outside of the return on the grate or grime that has accumulated in the tiny spaces between the filter and your event. You can use a mild cleaning solution and a soft cloth to wipe this away before replacing the grate.
2. Replace Your Air Filters
While you’re at it, you should replace your air filters now if you haven’t done so within the last month. Look for a high quality filter that offers sophisticated technology designed to remove ultra-fine particles and even odors from your air.
3. Clean Off Your Outdoor Unit
Winter can be tough on your outdoor condenser unit. From wet fall leaves to ice and snow, these things can build up and put additional wear and tear on your equipment. Taking the time to clean any debris away from your outdoor unit can help you get off on the right foot at the start of the season and prevent premature damage to your system.
4. Trim Back Vegetation
If any bushes, vines, or other vegetation has grown around your outdoor unit, you’ll want to trim this back to make sure it has plenty of exhaust space. Depending on how much rain the South Shore gets, you may need to do this more than once through the summer to keep nuisance plants away from your condenser.
5. Vacuum Out Your Vents
If you have floor vents, now is a great time to vacuum them out to get rid of dirt, crumbs, and hair. It’s also a good idea to take the metal registers out of the vents and put them in a bath of hot, soapy water to be cleaned.
You can take a soft brush to scrub away stuck on grime or wipe them down with a washcloth before leaving them to dry. Then, put the clean registers in your vents. You may even want to consider putting mesh screens over the registers to catch debris before it can fall into your vents.
6. Replace Your Thermostat Batteries
Make it a habit to put a fresh set of batteries in your thermostat every spring. Even if your current batteries are still working, it can be difficult to know how much charge has been used and how much is left. Using batteries that are low on charge can make your thermostat lag, potentially causing unwanted temperature shifts.
7. Calibrate Your Thermostat
Did you know? Your thermostat needs to be calibrated on a regular basis in order to accurately measure the temperature of the air inside your home. Calibrating your thermostat in the spring before the cooling season is underway can help you make sure that your HVAC system is ready to go when summer hits.
8. Schedule Professional Maintenance
Professional maintenance is essential for keeping your system in good condition and maintaining its operating efficiency. Typically, this is done annually and includes a thorough inspection and cleaning of your unit, filter change, and any repairs that may need to be done before you fire up your AC for the warmer weather.
Prep Your HVAC System for Spring with McClaren Heating & Air Conditioning
Taking care of your home HVAC system involves more than just spring cleaning. At McClaren Heating & Air Conditioning, we can help you stay on top of your annual equipment maintenance and identify any potential problems that need to be fixed before they become a significant problem. Contact us today at 781-447-0136 to set up a free estimate or book your service.
