With everyone trying to keep social distancing in mind, you may be avoiding having your spring tune-up done by an HVAC professional. It always best to have a qualified HVAC contractor perform preventative maintenance as there are items that cannot be checked by a homeowner. But there are some things that you can do to help ensure your unit is ready for an Eastern NC summer
Visually inspect units and ductwork.
Spring is a good time to put your eyes on all of the components of your cooling system. On the outdoor unit, look out for any yard debris. Remove any tall grasses or other items that may prevent air flow to the outdoor coil. If you have a split system, your air handler unit is located in the attic, crawlspace, or closet. Be sure to inspect the secondary drain pan for signs of water. Check any visible duct work for tears and make sure all ducts are well connected.
Replace filters.
You should be doing this every month anyways, but be sure its clean and if its not, replace it. Vacuum around the metal grille to remove any dust and also check the vents.
Clear drain line.
You will need a wet/dry vacuum for this, like a Shop-Vac. Near the outdoor unit, there should be a 3/4 inch PVC pipe that drains the water that is produced when your system is in cooling mode. Its important to keep the line clean to prevent any water damage and unnecessary breakdown on your AC. Use the wet/dry vacuum to suck out any build-up that has accumulated in the drain line.
Clean outdoor coil.
Take a water hose and spray down your outdoor unit. It is also good to spray down into the unit and clean the coil from the inside. Make sure to remove any leaves or other debris from the unit.
Turn on and test.
If you haven’t already, be sure to turn your system into cooling mode. See that the outdoor unit turns on and the fan blades spin. Make sure that air is flowing out of your vents as well.
If you have any concerns about your HVAC system, don’t hesitate to call Davis Heating & AC. Our friendly and knowledgeable staff may be able to help you over the phone with your concerns or can schedule a qualified service technician to come take a look. We also offer preventative maintenance contracts where we come out twice a year to help ensure that your HVAC system continues to work properly for as long as possible.