3 Spring Maintenance Tasks for Your HVAC Systems

Spring cleaning is in the air… and that includes your air conditioning unit. Creating and committing to a seasonal maintenance plan is key to the upkeep of your home, and with spring just around the corner, now is the perfect time to put together a list of spring tasks—including your important HVAC tasks—to tackle.

Before warmer temperatures hit and you’re depending on your air conditioning system every day, consider these three maintenance tasks for optimal performance:

1. Improve Your Indoor Air Quality Ahead of Allergy Season by Replacing Your HVAC Filters

More than 24 million Americans suffer from seasonal allergic rhinitis, also called hay fever and characterized by congestion, itchy eyes, runny nose and sneezing, according to the Centers of Disease Control and Presentation (CDC). So with allergy season right around the corner, it’s the most important time of year to have the best possible indoor air quality.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the most effective way to improve your indoor air quality is to reduce or remove sources of pollutants, which can range from fuel-burning appliances; different building materials and furnishings; household cleaning, maintenance and personal care products; excess moisture and much more. You should also limit the amount of outdoor air, which contains allergens like pollen, from coming inside by keeping windows and doors closed.

Removing all of these pollutant sources might not be possible, so properly using filters in your HVAC systems is another option to help improve indoor air quality. Filters can help trap harmful particles, allowing less of a chance of them being inhaled. The EPA recommends using a filter with a Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) 13 rating, or as high a rating as your system can accommodate. A Rheem Pro can help advise you on what type of filter works best for your system.

Remember, filters need to be regularly cleaned or replaced or they won’t work to their full potential. Changing your home’s HVAC system filters is recommended every 60 to 90 days, but check your system manuals for exact timing and instructions or consult your Rheem Pro.

2. Thoroughly Clean Your Outdoor Units

After a long winter, there might be debris, leaves or excess dirt on or surrounding your outdoor unit. Clear the top and sides of the unit of any noticeable debris, like leaves or yard trimmings. Then make a 3-foot radius around the unit and clear the area of anything that might be obstructing air flow, like plants, branches or something else.

When your Rheem Pro visits for their spring maintenance appointment, they’ll perform a deeper clean of your HVAC units, ensuring the inside of your system looks good and is functioning properly. For your outdoor unit, they’ll safely remove the access panel to examine your condenser coils and fan blades, and they’ll remove any of the dust, dirt and debris that might have built up in your system over colder months. 

3. Schedule a Routine Maintenance Appointment with a Rheem Pro

While there’s plenty you can do as a homeowner to make sure your home and all of its appliances and systems are in good shape, a preventative maintenance appointment is recommended to ensure your HVAC systems are running safely and efficiently for the season ahead.

During their visit, your Rheem Pro will do a thorough cleaning and inspection, ensuring your systems and all of their parts and connections are functioning properly, and often times, they’ll also catch issues or soon-to-be issues that the untrained eye might not catch. Ultimately, their visit will be invaluable, saving you money on your electrical bills because your systems are operating a peak performance without disruptions.

Find and schedule an appointment with a smart and dependable Rheem Pro by visiting our website.