Updated 2/28/2023
By Claire Ferrara, President & Owner
Spring is one of the most unpredictable seasons in Minnesota, one moment the weather is 68 degrees and the next is a snowstorm. One thing we can count on is that warmer weather will come! As your local heating and cooling experts, we want to share some simple things you can do to prepare your home for the summer heat.
4 HVAC Tasks to Complete Before Summer
Inside Your Home
Filters
Most filters are designed to protect your furnace, not the air you breathe. With a lot of folks spending more time in their home, we have noticed filters need to be changed more often. Additionally, springtime means windows opening, and fresh air breezing in, this can bring outside particles into your home's air.
On average, homeowners should change 1-inch filters every 2-3 months, but during the springtime, you should check monthly. One suggestion to help remind you to check is to set up a reminder on your smartphone to notify you every month to go and check your filter.
Vents, Drain Lines, and Thermostats
As you go around your home and open all your vents and clear any furniture or other household items that might be blocking airflow, clean dust or debris that might have accumulated over winter.
Be sure to check your drain lines, found near your furnace. Make sure they are draining properly into the designated areas & that the pipes are clear and cleaned. If your lines are unable to drain properly, this can cause basement flooding or ice issues on your air conditioner. Lastly, don’t forget to check your thermostat batteries!
Outside Your Home
Air Conditioning Unit
When evaluating your unit outside, you want to clear about 2-3 feet around your air conditioner. Remove plants, leaves, branches, and yard debris so that your system can properly function and prevent dirt from plugging your unit up.
If you cover your AC unit, remove the cover before you turn it on. To clean the outside of your AC unit use a regular garden hose to wash the exterior, this helps remove buildups like pollen and cottonwood (do NOT use a pressure washer, as this will damage your unit).
Comfy & Cool All Summer Long
As we spend more time in our homes, we find our customers have told us that their comfort is even more important! It only takes a short amount of time to check on your system to help prepare you for a comfortable summer.
If you feel confident in taking these general maintenance steps – please do so! Or if you would like a professional to do this and more, give us a call and we would be happy to perform a tune-up, safety check & cleaning on your system plus, give you some tips on your home's heating & cooling system!
Don't hesitate to contact the team at Standard Heating & Air Conditioning to schedule an appointment by calling (612) 324-1015 today!