Ultimate Spring Checklist for HVAC Maintenance

We look forward to the coming Spring each year. Warm weather and plenty of sunshine make ball games, cookouts, and evenings on the deck, listening to songbirds and children, very pleasant. It is also an occasion to switch the thermostat from HEAT to COOL.

How long has it been since your air conditioner ran? Perhaps four or five months of inactivity should prompt you to give it a little pre-season care!

Do-it-yourself HVAC Maintenance Tasks

• Replace your air filter. If you change your filter on schedule (about every three months), you will know the condition of your filter. The change to the cooling season is a good prompt for filter changes.

Air conditioners require great quantities of air to move across the refrigerant coils. Since dust and dander collect on the filter, it eventually clogs the filter, so make sure the filter is clean at the beginning of the cooling season.

• Clean the condenser unit. The outdoor condenser unit has been collecting leaves, dust, and blowing debris, so make sure to clean it thoroughly. Remove the covers and use a garden hose to rinse away the accumulated dust and lawn clippings from the fall. The large fan on the inside pulls a lot of air through the network of coils to transfer heat; the dust and debris interfere with the heat transfer.
• Clean the evaporator unit. Flip the breaker for the air conditioner and take the cover off the evaporator chamber. Spray a 50/50 solution of vinegar and water onto the evaporator coils. This loosens any dust particles from the coil for the same reason as the condenser coils—heat transfer.

The drain pan is situated under the coil. The moisture that is removed from the humid air drips into the drain pan. Clean away any debris from the drain pan; this can get caught in the drain line and result in an overflow. Pour the remaining solution into the pan. This prevents algae growth in the drain pan and line.

Professional Tasks

Some tasks need to be completed by a professional technician. Those tasks include:

• Checking the Freon. The air conditioner cools by compressing refrigerant gas, often called Freon, and then releasing the pressure. Since the whole gas network is a closed system and the gas is under pressure, even a very small hole will allow all the gas to leak away. If the gas pressure is low, the technician will find and fix the leak, then replace the Freon.
• Inspecting the thermostat. The thermostat is the switch for the air conditioner, and it also needs some care. They run on batteries, which need to be changed annually. The technician will use a thermometer to test and calibrate the thermostat setting.

This might be an ideal time to replace an old thermostat with a Smart thermostat. These thermostats are programmable and adaptive, and they have a cellphone app that allows customized comfort selections.

• Test the Electronics. As the air conditioner cycles on and off, electricity slams through the switches and controllers very suddenly. While there are few moving parts, the constant cycling creates wear and tear. As a part of the maintenance visit, the technician will test the electronics for weaknesses.
• Clean the vents. The ductwork for the air conditioning system will collect airborne particles that blow past the air filter. Over the years, the dust can build up and contribute to poor indoor air quality. Technicians can disturb the collected dust and vacuum it away; make sure to clean both the cold air returns and the supply vents. Vents should be cleaned every three to five years.

Let us help with your Spring HVAC Maintenance!

With our four decades of experience as an HVAC contractor, AirPro Houston provides you with the skill and expertise to assist with HVAC Maintenance.

We have several financing options available with great options with up to 72-month terms with approved credit. Call us today at  281-880-8805 and let us partner with you for all of your Furnace Repair, Tune-up maintenance, and Commercial HVAC Maintenance needs.