The weather in North Carolina can swing from hot, humid summers to frigid winters, thus, your HVAC system runs constantly all year long. Staying comfortable and avoiding last-minute problems depend on your heating and cooling equipment being ready before every season. A little seasonal HVAC maintenance will help you be ready for either the sweltering heat or the bracing cold snaps. Your system should be ready for NC’s winter cold and summer heat as follows.
Do Summer HVAC Prep Using a Spring HVAC Checklist
North Carolina summers are no joke; thus, use spring to ensure your air conditioning is in good working order. Work through this checklist before the major heat arrives.
- Set an AC schedule. Plan a spring professional AC check-up. The technician will check refrigerant levels, tidy and examine your cooling system to ensure everything is running effectively. This helps stop breakdowns brought on by summer heat.
- Change or clean filters to start the cooling season. Spring brings high pollen and dust, thus replacing your HVAC filter guarantees best indoor air quality and airflow. Over summer, keep looking over the filter monthly and replace as necessary.
- Clear debris from the outdoor unit; leaves and pine needles could have gathered around your outdoor AC condenser over fall and winter. Clear any trash, then try to create about two feet of clearance on all sides. To clean the coils, gently hose off them with the power off. Better cooling inside follows from better airflow outside.
- Test Your AC Early: Find out your AC isn’t cooling as expected, not waiting for a sweltering day. Run your air conditioner on a mild spring day to be sure it blows cold air and nothing seems out of line. Should a problem exist, address it before summer starts.
- Change your summer thermostat schedule to reflect the hot season. When you’re out, let the house warm a little; then, cool it down in the evenings when you get home. These settings—or a smart thermostat—can help NC save energy during its hot months.
Fall HVAC Checklist: Ready Your Winter Heating
NC’s winters range from mild to freezing, thus it’s best to be ready. Prepare your furnace or heat pump every autumn before cold conditions arrive:
- Schedule a heating tune-up. Have a fall professional service on your furnace or heat pump. They will check safety controls, tidy the unit, and ensure it is running as it should. A tune-up helps one relax on chilly winter evenings.
- Replace the Air Filter: Start the heating season with a clean filter, also. Check and replace if necessary; fall dust and leaf waste can choke it. When you first turn on the heat, a new filter helps your furnace breathe and stops that burnt-dust smell. Through winter, keep monthly checking the filter.
- Test Your Heater Early: Turn on your furnace or heat pump on a cool fall day to check it runs smoothly and blows warm air. Should it not, you can have it corrected before winter arrives.
- Check Thermostat and Detector Batteries: Put new batteries in your smoke/CO detectors each fall and in your thermostat (if one exists). This guarantees that throughout winter, your safety alarms and heating controls operate as they should.
Create a Comfortable Home with Seasonal HVAC Prep
These seasonal HVAC prep actions will help you create a comfortable home and peace of mind all year long. A little spring and autumn preparation will help to avoid a lot of stress (and cost) during the hottest and coldest days of North Carolina.
Contact Air Support Heating & Cooling if you need professional assistance with seasonal maintenance. Our maintenance services include fall heating inspections and spring AC tune-ups, so eliminating some of the seasonal prep guesswork. Our local knowledge will enable us to assist you in having your HVAC system ready for whatever North Carolina’s climate presents. Get your free estimate today!