AC Spring Maintenance

Posted on 04/13/2018

 While parts of the country are still dealing with a winter that just won’t end, now is the time to check on your air conditioning (AC) unit to make sure everything is in top shape when it’s time to start cooling your home for the summer. You’ll want to hire a NADCA member for a seasonal maintenance inspection, but here’s what you can do to get your AC ready for summer.

What You Can Do

Outdoors
Chances are, your AC unit is outdoors. If that’s the case, prepare for a maintenance visit by:

  • Clearing away any dirt, leaves or other items from the unit.
  • Inspecting the unit for obvious cracks and holes.air duct spring cleaning
  • Rinsing the outside of the unit to wash away built-up dirt and grime.

Indoors
Some of your most critical checks will happen indoors, including:

  • Cleaning or replacing filters.
  • Paying attention to any unusual smells filling your home after you start your system.
  • Listening for strange or different sounds coming from your system when it’s running.

Before you take a look, keep in mind that if your furnace or AC unit are under warranty, tampering with them could void the warranty. Conduct visual inspections yourself and leave the rest to the pros.

What the Pros Will Do

Maintenance is a critical part of keeping your home’s AC running smoothly. Calling a professional for a seasonal maintenance inspection will not only ensure that any problems are identified and handled early, but that small problems don’t get out of control and lead to larger, more expensive issues.

During a professional seasonal maintenance inspection, a technician will most likely:

  • Clean the AC’s coils if they’re dirty. Dirty coils can reduce the system’s overall efficiency, making your AC unit work harder and increasing your energy costs.
  • Check the pressure and refrigerant levels to make sure the system can cool and move air efficiently.
  • Check electrical components and connections.
  • Inspect system controls to make sure everything is working properly, including when the system starts, runs and turns off.
  • Check the system’s overall airflow to ensure that air can move easily and freely through the system.

Learn more about improving the energy efficiency of your home and saving money.