Transitioning Your HVAC System from Winter to Spring: Seasonal Maintenance Tips

As an AC repair tech, I can’t stress enough the importance of seasonal maintenance for your HVAC system. As the seasons change, you’ll want to start prepping your home and your HVAC system for the changing weather.

During the winter, your heating system will be working overtime, and in the summer, your air conditioning system will be working hard to keep you cool. This is why it’s so important to have regular maintenance performed on your HVAC system. Having it checked out will ensure that everything is running smoothly and efficiently, and catch any potential problems before they become major issues.

There are lots of things that an AC repair tech, like myself, takes into account when inspecting a system during a seasonal maintenance checkup. But, I wanted to focus this article just on the switch from heat to air conditioning – or, winter to spring/summer.

I say this to many of our clients – just like how a car needs regular maintenance to keep it running smoothly, your HVAC system requires seasonal maintenance to operate efficiently. Without regular tune-ups, both can experience breakdowns and costly repairs. Keep both running at their best by scheduling maintenance with a trusted professional.

Interested in AC maintenance? Check out our AC maintenance services.

Did you wait too long in between tune-ups? Check out our AC repair services.

Seasonal maintenance on your HVAC system provides numerous benefits, including:

• Catching potential problems early
• Extending the lifespan of your system
• Improving energy efficiency and lowering energy bills
• Improving air quality by removing allergens and harmful particles
• Promoting safety by identifying and addressing potential safety hazards

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of the cure. Regular maintenance can save you from costly repairs and ensure that your HVAC system is running at its best throughout the year.

Here’s what we suggest doing when switching from winter to spring

Definitely check your filter and replace it especially if it shows any signs of dirt.

If you have a humidifier, go ahead and turn that off for the cooling season. I would also recommend either cleaning it out yourself or have somebody else come out and service it. You don’t want it to sit there all summer with a used pad, which can get biological growth on it.

If you are familiar enough with this system, I recommend checking the condensate drain as well. You’ll want to make sure it’s clean and clear. If it’s got an access point, pour a little water down and make sure it drains properly.

You’ll want to do these things (or have someone do them) before the super hot weather hits. If it starts getting warm before you have an AC tech come out, turn the system on just to see how it feels. You may not need the AC but it’s just a good gauge to see how the system is running.

Here’s what we do during an AC inspection

In the springtime for our cooling checks, we do “standard inspections”, which are sometimes referred to as tune-ups, preventive maintenance, or system checks. They involve checking the system from top to bottom, making sure there are no deficiencies or safety concerns:

• We check the cleanliness of all the components of the indoor blower wheel, indoor evaporator coil, and the outdoor condenser coil.
• We check all the electrical readings and check all electrical connections for tightness.
• We check the refrigerant charge and compare it to the manufacturer’s specifications to make sure the charge is within specifications.
• We make sure there are no bushes and leaves and stuff up against the outside unit.
• We check most electrical components like the blower motor.
• We inspect the base pan for restricted drain openings and remove obstructions as necessary.
• We check the coil and cabinet.
• We inspect the fan motor and fan blades for wear and damage. On older models, we’ll lubricate as needed.
• We’ll check the thermostat functions properly.
• We check for the proper temperature drop.
• We’ll even change your air filter for you.

Cozy Club Members System Check

Interested? We have a program called the Cozy Club that gets you all this (and more!) for a low monthly price. Check out the Cozy Club here.

On top of what I listed above, Cozy Club members also get a drain line flushing. In my experience, this has been the number one problem I see in the summertime – clogged drains that can lead to serious issues like flooded attics, basements, and other water damage. Our members get this cleaning included.

Along with this, our members get a chemical cleaning of their outdoor condenser coil. All summer long, those coils are sucking in dirt, which can build up and block airflow.