5 HVAC Maintenance Tips for Your Home This Spring

Spring is the time of year when the weather warms up, so you won’t need to rely as much on the heater in your Los Angeles, CA home. This means that the odds of a major furnace issue will drop considerably. However, that doesn’t mean you can start neglecting your HVAC system as soon as the winter starts fading. If you want to keep your house comfortable and energy-efficient through the spring and beyond, you can’t get complacent about caring for your HVAC system. Here, we’ll cover a handful of simple, effective HVAC maintenance tips that you can put into practice as springtime approaches.

1. Replace Your HVAC Air Filters

Replacing your HVAC air filters is one of the simplest ways that you can improve the performance and efficiency of your heating and cooling units. Whenever your HVAC system cycles, its filters have the essential role of trapping airborne contaminants. The air filters regularly catch particles of dust, pollen, pet dander, and other contaminants. This helps to keep your indoor air quality high and your HVAC system operating at peak efficiency. Over time, though, these filters become dirty and, eventually, unable to remove the particles from the air. When this happens, it becomes much harder for your HVAC system to pull air through, which can cause all sorts of problems.

During the winter, with your heater running often, your furnace’s air filter likely has become quite dirty. For this reason, the beginning of spring is an excellent time to replace it. Since you’ll soon be running the air conditioning, it’s a good idea to switch out the AC filter as well. Plus, spring’s arrival will mean quite a bit more pollen in the air. This means that having clean HVAC air filters will be especially important for anyone in your home with allergies.

Overall, replacing your HVAC filters will greatly improve the comfort, energy efficiency, and functionality of your home this spring and summer.

2. Get Your Ductwork Inspected and Cleaned

Healthy ductwork is vital for maintaining a comfortable, healthy home throughout the spring. Every time you turn on the heater or air conditioning, your HVAC system must circulate air through your home’s air ducts. These ducts direct the conditioned air to the different parts of the house, ensuring a comfortable, consistent climate. However, it’s normal for various contaminants to build up inside your ductwork. If you haven’t had your ducts professionally cleaned in several years, then they’re likely filled with dust, dirt, and debris. They may also be harboring mold growth or rodent infestations. Additionally, if your ductwork hasn’t been inspected in a while, leaks or other damage have developed.

When your ductwork is leaky or overly dirty, it creates a major obstacle for your HVAC system. This will worsen its performance and energy efficiency while also increasing the risk of a serious equipment problem. At Monkey Wrench Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electric, we offer comprehensive ductwork inspections and cleanings. Our team will thoroughly clean out your air ducts and inspect them for any leaks or other damage. This will have numerous benefits for your household this spring and beyond.

Getting your ductwork cleaned offers all the following benefits:

• Improved indoor air quality
• Lower monthly utility costs
• Better HVAC system health
• More consistent comfort
• A better-smelling home

3. Schedule Professional HVAC Maintenance

Ideally, it’s best to have both your heating and cooling systems professionally serviced at least once every year. Generally, for Los Angeles homeowners, the springtime is an excellent time to take care of one or both tune-ups. During a heating or air conditioning tune-up, your hired HVAC technician will thoroughly inspect the appliance and check the condition of various important components. They will check for any equipment issues and adjust improve the unit’s performance and energy efficiency. After the tune-up, your furnace or AC unit will once again be running like new, resulting in improved comfort, lower electricity bills, and a much lower likelihood of a breakdown or malfunction.

Since the spring brings with it warm weather, having your AC unit serviced will ensure that you have reliable, efficient air conditioning whenever you need it for the next several months. It may also be prudent to have your heating system serviced, as you’ve likely put significant strain on it throughout the winter. Getting it tuned up now will help make sure that it’s ready to run smoothly when the chillier weather comes back around. At Monkey Wrench Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electric, our skilled HVAC technicians offer both heating and cooling maintenance and offer a Home Protection Plan Membership to help with discounts and scheduling.

4. Clean the Outdoor Unit

Another way you can prepare your HVAC system for the spring is by checking and cleaning its outdoor unit. The outdoor unit, which contains the unit’s condenser coils, plays a vital role in keeping your home cool during the warm spring and summer. During the fall and winter, though, significant amounts of dirt, leaves, and other debris have accumulated on and around this part of your HVAC system. If left unchecked, a dirty or obstructed outdoor unit can greatly impact the performance and energy efficiency of your air conditioner.

Spring is also an excellent time to assess the state of your outdoor unit and, if necessary, clean it thoroughly. One effective way to clean the unit is to gently clear away the debris with a soft brush or a garden hose set on a gentle spray. You’ll want to be careful that you don’t damage any of the delicate components. By cleaning your HVAC system’s outdoor unit now, you’ll be setting it up to run as smoothly as possible during the warmer seasons.

5. Clean Your Air Vents

Much like your home’s ductwork, your air vents play a crucial role in the efficiency of your HVAC system. After conditioned air passes through the air ducts, it must exit through vents in different parts of the house. Over time, though, contaminants like dust, dirt, and small debris can build up inside the vents.

If your home’s air vents are packed with dust and debris, it will put unnecessary strain on your air conditioner this spring and summer. The AC unit will have to work harder to consistently push cool air through the vents, which will worsen its energy efficiency and increase the likelihood of an equipment problem. It will also affect your comfort, potentially creating uneven temperatures around your dwelling. Fortunately, it’s relatively easy to clean your air vents. Before the weather heats up, visit each vent in your house and remove the cover panel with a screwdriver. Then, using a vacuum cleaner’s hose extension, simply suck the contaminants out. In addition to optimizing your HVAC system’s performance, having clean air vents will improve your indoor air quality and reduce the amount of dust in your living space.

Trusted Los Angeles HVAC Professionals

Monkey Wrench Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electric is proud to provide Los Angeles residents with top-tier HVAC services. Our team consists of highly trained and experienced technicians, all of whom strive to provide exceptional customer service and top-tier workmanship. We offer heating and air conditioning services, including maintenance, repairs, and installations. You can also count on us for duct cleaning, duct sealing, and indoor air quality services. Contact us at Monkey Wrench Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electric today if you’d like to learn more or schedule an appointment!