Now that winter is coming to an end, it’s only a matter of time until the high temperatures of the Las Vegas, NV spring and summer arrive. While you’ve probably been utilizing your heater over the last few months, you’ll likely be relying heavily on your AC unit going forward. However, if you start cranking up the air conditioning all day every day, it’s going to put a lot of extra strain on the system. That can cause your HVAC unit to struggle with its performance and efficiency, and it can also lead to appliance breakdowns or malfunctions. The good news is that there are easy, straightforward measures you can take to prepare your HVAC unit for the spring and summer.
Replacing Your HVAC Air Filters
If your home HVAC air filters haven’t been replaced over the last few months, they’re probably in desperate need of attention. During winter, you’ve probably had warm air circulating regularly, meaning your filters have been working overtime. Plus, now that spring is in the air, the amount of pollen floating around is rising by the day. With a clogged or dirty air filter, it will require much more exertion for your AC to keep you cool as the weather heats up. Its energy efficiency will decline, causing your monthly electricity bills to increase, and mechanical failure will become more likely. Because a broken-down or struggling HVAC unit is the last thing you want to deal with during the scorching Las Vegas summer, make a point to replace your HVAC filters now. Then, be sure to monitor them diligently until the weather starts to cool down during fall.
Scheduling Preventative HVAC Maintenance
For the overall health and longevity of your HVAC unit, yearly professional maintenance is an absolute necessity, and spring is as good a time as any to schedule a tune-up. After it worked so hard during winter and before it does so again in the summer, spring presents a great opportunity to ensure that your HVAC unit is in top condition.
In the Las Vegas area, you can hire our expert technicians at BEST Air Conditioning Plumbing Repair to handle your preventative HVAC maintenance. During the tune-up, they’ll thoroughly clean out all of the accumulated dust, dirt, dander, pollen, and small debris from the system. That will allow it to operate more smoothly, which will result in less energy being wasted and better overall performance. Additionally, you won’t have so many of those airborne contaminants cycling around your home this spring. You’ll breathe easier and be less at risk for allergy issues.
Our maintenance professional will also check for any signs of upcoming equipment problems. That way, you won’t be saddled with an unexpected system breakdown during the scorching spring or summer. If they find any indications that something could go wrong, they’ll be able to take preventative measures to preserve the health of the unit.
Inspecting and Cleaning Your Air Vents
Before springtime brings the drastically rising temperatures along, you’ll want to ensure that your home’s air vents are clean and unobstructed. Since you’ll be relying on your cooling system to circulate air frequently going forward, it’s imperative that there are clear pathways through which the conditioned air can be distributed. First, check each vent and make sure no furniture or clutter has inadvertently ended up blocking it. If you leave your couch in front of a vent, that room won’t be receiving any air from your HVAC unit.
It’s equally important to make sure those vents aren’t packed or clogged with dust and debris. Too many contaminants can block your HVAC system from effectively pushing hot or cool air into the living space. That will place extra strain on the appliance and put it at risk for mechanical failure. Plus, plenty of those particles will end up in the air you’re breathing. Fortunately, cleaning your air vents is pretty simple. All you need to do is remove the protective panel with a screwdriver and get into the chamber with a vacuum cleaner’s extension hose. Do this with each vent during the spring, and then make a habit of doing it every couple of months going forward.
Scheduling a Duct Cleaning Appointment
Having clean, healthy air ducts is at least as important as having clean vents, if not more so. After winter ends, it’s common for household ductwork systems to be packed with a variety of contaminants. Once spring arrives, large quantities of pollen start to make their way into those pathways, exacerbating the situation. With excessively dirty ducts, it becomes more and more challenging for your HVAC unit to circulate air around your home. That can lead to wasted energy, uneven household temperatures, worsened air quality and shortened system life expectancy.
Not only will a professional duct cleaning avert these issues, but it will also bring your home all of the following benefits.
- Reduction of allergens in your indoor air
- Discovery of any ductwork damage
- Prevention of mold or mildew colonies
- Decrease in monthly energy costs
Having your ducts professionally cleaned will also reveal any leaks or other ductwork damage. Your hired technician will search for any problems during the cleaning, and they’ll be able to repair anything they come across. Leaky ducts will be extremely detrimental to your comfort, HVAC health, and energy costs once the hot Las Vegas summer arrives. Your cooling system will need to work harder to compensate for the air that escapes, and your rooms may still not receive a sufficient amount. By getting any damage or leaks taken care of now, you’ll have a far more pleasant spring and summer.
Installing a Programmable Thermostat
If you want your HVAC unit to survive the hot spring and summer in good condition, you’d be wise to consider investing in a programmable thermostat. You’ll want to find ways to give your cooling system as much rest as possible, which means you need to avoid accidentally leaving it set too high when you go to work or run errands. With a smart thermostat, you’ll never need to worry about that happening. You can manually program the thermostat to power down on its own during certain times of each day. Besides being able to set it to automatically shut off whenever your home reaches your preferred comfortable temperature, you can have it lower the temperature at night when you’re sleeping. Having one of these thermostats during the spring and summer will conserve energy, keep your HVAC unit healthy, and provide you with peace of mind.
Your Local Professionals
Since 2016, our expert team at BEST Air Conditioning Plumbing Repair has been a trusted provider of heating, cooling, plumbing, and indoor air quality services in the Greater Las Vegas area. We know how harsh the weather in Nevada can get, especially during the scorching summer months. That’s why we’re so dedicated to helping you stay comfortable and safe. We also love finding ways to give back to our community, so we regularly donate to Susan G. Komen and participate in the Lennox Feel the Love program. In 2019, our excellent service earned us the Best in Las Vegas award. If you’d like to schedule an appointment, contact our offices at BEST Air Conditioning Plumbing Repair today.
