3 Maintenance Tips For Your Furnace This Spring
Now that the warmer weather is underway and you aren't using your furnace any longer, it is time to start doing some routine spring maintenance on your unit. This time of year, the maintenance is all about ensuring your furnace is ready to go when the weather turns cold again. It also helps to prepare your unit when you need to turn the air conditioner on, as the two overlap to a certain degree. Similar to an automobile, the more you use your HVAC unit, the faster it wears out; for this reason, routine maintenance is necessary. A tune-up is important during the spring as well as during the fall. In the spring, here are three things that you should focus on.
1. Check the Filter
Every few months, it is important that your filter is changed when the system is being used. You should check the filter regularly to see if it needs to be changed. How can you tell whether the filter needs to be changed?
You will want to take the filter out and inspect it. Does it look dirty or clogged? If you can see debris or chunks of dirt, then you should change it. You will also want to note the color of the filter. As a general rule, filters should be a cream color, gray or white. If the filter is dark due to dirt, it's time to change it.
2. Pressure Wash the Heat Pump/Outdoor Condensing Unit
The best time of year to pressure wash your outdoor unit is spring. The weather is nice and warm and it will be several months until you use your heat again. Pressure washing the outdoor unit is important because it removes any gravel, dirt, and grime that has built up over the winter. It also removes any dead leaves and debris that may have gotten caught in the unit's parts. The cleaner the unit is, the more efficiently the system will run. This is very important, since a more efficiently-running system will cost less in terms of utility costs.
3. Schedule a Professional Inspection
It is a good idea to have a professional inspect your furnace once annually. You can choose to do this either in the fall or in the spring; however, spring tends to be the best time of year. The reason for this is because you won't have to worry about your system being out of order for an extended period of time if something is wrong with the system. You can visit sites like http://www.coeheatcool.com for more information.
