As you create your annual spring cleaning checklist, you’re probably thinking of traditional chores, such as:
- Washing the windows
- Decluttering the house, top-to-bottom
- Storing winter items and pulling out spring/summer items
Those are important tasks.
So is giving your home heating systems and home cooling systems a thorough cleaning this spring.
Here’s what you should do (or better yet, have the team at Advantage Airtech ClimateCare take care of it for you) and why it’s important.
Job 1: Replace your furnace filter
If you remember, December, January, and February had some bitterly cold days in Ajax, Oshawa, and Pickering.
That means your furnace worked overtime to keep your home toasty warm.
It also means your furnace filter worked hard to collect and trap harmful airborne contaminants, such as:
- Dust
- Pet dander
- Hair
- Dirt and grime
So now’s a good time to swap out that old filter for a new one; even if you plan on shutting your furnace down once the hot weather really hits.
Job 2: Replace the air conditioner filter
Although your air conditioner hasn’t been turned on in months, it’s still wise to give a fresh new filter for spring.
Here’s why:
- You never know what kind of pollutants got caught in there over the winter. The main culprit? Organic matter such as dead insects or bug waste.
- Your AC will need to work harder than it should from the moment it’s turned on. The extra work will shorten its lifespan and lead to higher-than-normal energy bills.
Job 3: Arrange for duct cleaning
The ducts in your home have a very important responsibility:
- To transport warm air (in winter) or cool air (in summer) to every corner of your home.
As that air flows through your ducts, it can pick up any trapped contaminants and spread them throughout the house.
Some of the nastier ones include:
- Mildew and mold spores
- Spider webs or cobwebs
- Dead insect remains
- Dust and grime
Duct cleaning this spring will take care of that issue for you by using specialized equipment (air blowers, vacuum systems, and brushes) to clean the important elements of your duct system:
- Air supply, intake, and return ducts
- Air handler unit
- Registers
- Motors, fans, and other mechanical components
Job 4: Remove grass and growth from your outdoor central air unit
Even during the winter months, grass and weeds keep on growing (just at a much slower rate).
If that growth is encroaching on your air conditioner, it could negatively impact its air flow. That makes it less effective and more expensive to operate.
A good rule of thumb to follow is to keep any grass growth 2’ away from your AC.
One more thing: If you didn’t cover your AC in a tarp for winter, you should get that professionally cleaned.
Otherwise, things like leaves, branches, and twigs can interfere with – or even break – the fan that’s inside.
Job 5: Test your CO alarm and replace the batteries if needed
There’s a reason carbon monoxide is called “the silent killer.” That’s because it’s:
- Odourless
- Colourless
- Tasteless
In other words, it’s impossible to detect.
This spring, make sure to test the batteries in your carbon monoxide alarm. If they need to be replaced, do it ASAP.
Should you notice any dust inside your CO alarm, grab a can of compressed air to blow it away. You want all the internal mechanisms to be free of debris.
While you’re at it, you should also do the same for your smoke/fire alarms too.
Job 6: Thoroughly clean and declutter your home
As mentioned at the top of this blog, cleaning your home is probably already on your spring cleaning chore list.
Besides making your home shiny and bright, it also helps with its home comfort systems.
Less clutter means fewer areas or objects for dust to accumulate.
Here’s what you can do in the major areas of you home to improve indoor air quality this spring:
- Bathroom: Clean the exhaust fan this spring to boost its air flow
- Kitchen: A dirty stove/oven reduces its efficiency. Give it a good cleaning.
- Living room: Caulk the windows (and any doors too) to keep out heat, humidity, and pollen
- Bedroom: Wash bedsheets once a week and invest in a high-powered HEPA filter
- Basement: Get rid of unwanted moisture with a reliable air conditioner
- Laundry room: Clean the lint collector and dryer ducts, and sweep up excess dust
Let us tackle your HVAC spring cleaning for you
Spring cleaning is a busy time of year.
Your HVAC system is a big part of spring maintenance for your home. Don’t neglect or forget about it this year.
By having us take care of it, you won’t:
- Have to worry about it
- Spend more money on energy or maintenance
- Need to clean your home as often
Contact us now to book spring maintenance or with any questions or comments you have.
