5 Easy HVAC Maintenance Tips for Summer

You love your home and you want it to be comfortable, efficient and attractive. While your HVAC system won’t score any curb appeal points, it can keep your home comfortable and help you save energy this summer. It just takes some TLC, which we’ve outlined in these five easy HVAC maintenance tips:

Vents and Grilles

You don’t want dust blowing into your home from your vents, especially if you suffer from respiratory ailments. Wipe down or vacuum air vents and return grilles as needed. For deep cleaning, remove the vents and grilles and wipe down behind them. If the supply ducts are dirty, contact your HVAC technician for an inspection.

Filter

Dirty HVAC parts wear out faster and use more energy to operate. For example, if your filter is clogged with dirt, your blower gets really stressed out trying to pull return air through the dirt and grime. Save energy costs and prevent a premature blower repair with regular filter changes.

Condensate Drain

When is the last time you checked your air handler for water leaks? Never? The evaporator collects gallons of condensate. Under normal conditions, the condensate flows into a pan and drain tube. However, if the drain tube becomes blocked, water can overflow inside your home. Keep your condensate pan clear by pouring a pint of antimicrobial liquid cleaner in it at the beginning, middle and end of the cooling months.

Ducts

Rattling ducts are a nuisance and they waste energy. Check your accessible ducts for dislocated joints, air leaks and holes. When inspecting the ductwork, turn on your HVAC system because it’s easier to feel leaks. To seal ducts, use heat-resistant metal tape to wrap them.

Outdoor Unit

Walk around the outdoor HVAC unit. Make sure there is a few feet of space to allow free airflow to the side grill. Listen for any rattling or grinding noises from the blower motor that indicate wear or an obstruction. Clean the grill to remove dirt buildup.

For questions about HVAC maintenance or to schedule professional maintenance for your Middletown home, please contact C.R. Wolfe Heating & Air Conditioning today.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Middletown, New York about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about summer maintenance and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Guide or call us at 845-367-4482.

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