Your complete spring air conditioning guide
Spring is finally, well, springing! This weekend marks the first day of spring, along with a whole slew of new things you should keep in mind when it comes to your heating and cooling equipment. The furnace is out and the heat pumps and air conditioners are coming in! And, with warmer weather, it can actually be more confusing to decide best HVAC practices. Do you turn it on? Do you turn all of your systems off? Do you open the windows?
Well, here is everything you need to keep in mind when it comes to your HVAC equipment during the spring.
- Avoid open windows. Yes, the weather is nicer, the temperatures are friendlier…BUT, spring is also prime allergy season! So, while it may be a nice idea to open up those windows briefly to relieve stagnant, stuffy air – it is not a good idea to make this the norm during the spring.
- Speaking of allergies… Make sure you change your filter and investigate IAQ products (if you don’t already have a quality air filter to keep out those allergens). Your family’s health and home comfort is heavily impacted by the quality of your indoor air – this is not an area to skimp out on.
- For non-programmable thermostat users. Make sure you keep your temperature consistent until you know that the weather is changing for the good. Constantly changing the settings on your thermostat (when you don’t have a programmable model) can actually drive up utility bills.
- For programmable thermostat users. Make sure you switch your programmable temperature setting schedule over to cooling mode when you know the weather is changing for good. Different seasons require different settings if you want to maximize efficiency.
- Should you turn off your system completely? Did you know that it is always a better idea to keep your system running longer at lower levels than to shut it off completely? That is because on/off cycles can be energy-consuming. Also, when you turn off your system it is not circulating your indoor air, which can lead to stagnant air and poor indoor air quality.
- Keep your condenser free of debris. Grass clippings, spring planting, pollen – the list of things that can block the airflow to your air conditioner or heat pump goes on and on. Blocked airflow means less efficient operation and, in extreme cases, can make your unit work so hard that it gives out. Keep grass clippings away from your condenser and consider scheduling a thorough cleaning with your local heating and cooling contractor.
- And, while we are mentioning it… the most important thing you can do for your air conditioner or heat pump during the spring is scheduling a clean and check with your heating and cooling contractor before warm temperatures really have a chance to settle in. This can head-off emergency, no-cooling appointments during the summer – keeping you and your family happy and comfortable.