The daffodils are peaking through,
the thunder storms are rolling, and the layers are coming off… Spring has
sprung here in Richmond!
With the equinox comes spring
cleaning. There’s never a nicer time to fling open the windows and refresh your
home. Often overlooked is a home’s heating and air systems. There is no better
time to do a check up on your equipment… The sweltering Richmond summers are a
terrible time to find out you need work done!
ENERGY STAR is a U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) voluntary program that helps businesses and individuals
save money and protect our climate through superior energy efficiency. Energy
Star has put together a spring checklist to make sure your equipment is in top
shape to keep you and yours comfortable and healthy in the months to come!
Maintain your equipment to prevent
future problems and unwanted costs. Keep your cooling and heating system at
peak performance by having a specialist do annual pre-season check-ups.
Specialists get busy once summer and winter come, so it's best to check the
cooling system in the spring and the heating system in the fall. To remember, plan the check-ups around the time changes in the spring and fall.
A typical maintenance check-up should include the following:
Check thermostat settings to
ensure the cooling and heating system keeps you comfortable when you are home
and saves energy while you are away.
Tighten all electrical connections and measure voltage and current on motors. Faulty electrical connections can cause unsafe operation of your system and reduce the life of major components.
Lubricate all moving parts. Parts that lack lubrication cause friction in motors and increases the amount of electricity you use.
Check and inspect the condensate drain in your central air conditioner, furnace and/or heat pump (when in cooling mode). A plugged drain can cause water damage in the house and affect indoor humidity levels.
Check controls of the system to ensure proper and safe operation. Check the starting cycle of the equipment to assure the system starts, operates, and shuts off properly.
Clean evaporator and condenser air conditioning coils. Dirty coils reduce the system's ability to cool your home and cause the system to run longer, increasing energy costs and reducing the life of the equipment.
Check your central air conditioner's refrigerant level and adjust if necessary. Too much or too little refrigerant will make your system less efficient increasing energy costs and reducing the life of the equipment.
Clean and adjust blower components to provide proper system airflow for greater comfort levels. Airflow problems can reduce your system's efficiency by up to 15%.
Tighten all electrical connections and measure voltage and current on motors. Faulty electrical connections can cause unsafe operation of your system and reduce the life of major components.
Lubricate all moving parts. Parts that lack lubrication cause friction in motors and increases the amount of electricity you use.
Check and inspect the condensate drain in your central air conditioner, furnace and/or heat pump (when in cooling mode). A plugged drain can cause water damage in the house and affect indoor humidity levels.
Check controls of the system to ensure proper and safe operation. Check the starting cycle of the equipment to assure the system starts, operates, and shuts off properly.
Clean evaporator and condenser air conditioning coils. Dirty coils reduce the system's ability to cool your home and cause the system to run longer, increasing energy costs and reducing the life of the equipment.
Check your central air conditioner's refrigerant level and adjust if necessary. Too much or too little refrigerant will make your system less efficient increasing energy costs and reducing the life of the equipment.
Clean and adjust blower components to provide proper system airflow for greater comfort levels. Airflow problems can reduce your system's efficiency by up to 15%.
Actions To Do Yourself:
Inspect, clean, or change air
filters once a month in your central air conditioner, furnace, and/or heat
pump. Your contractor can show you how to do this. A dirty filter can increase
energy costs and damage your equipment, leading to early failure.
Howell’s offers a Comfort Club
membership designed to troubleshoot your system for you. As a member you receive routine maintenance on
your HVAC system, discount on repairs, preferred services, and much more. Give
us a call today for details!
Enjoy the sun and blooms, RVA!
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