Conquer Your Year-End HVAC Maintenance Checklist and Say Goodbye to Winter!

If you’re ready to say goodbye to winter and hello to spring, this article is for you.

Although it is not quite time to turn your furnace off for the season, it is time to start getting your HVAC system ready for winter’s end. This includes cleaning your vents, changing your furnace filter, booking your air duct cleaning, preparing your air conditioner etc.

Not sure where to begin?

Our heating and cooling experts at Campeau Heating have just created an easy end-of-winter- HVAC maintenance checklist for you, our local Sudbury homeowners! 

Whether you’re a beginner homeowner or just in need of a few seasonal reminders, we’re here to help. We’ll make sure that your HVAC system is ready to make the smooth transition from winter to spring. 

In this article, our technicians explore the needs of both end-of-season furnace maintenance and spring air conditioning preparation. But before we get into the checklist, let’s talk about, 

1. Why closing your furnace down for the winter is necessary, and
2. Why preparing your air conditioner for spring ahead of time is crucial!

The Importance of Spring HVAC Maintenance 

Why does your furnace need spring maintenance?

Keeping up with the weather this winter has been next to impossible - especially with the many weather advisories, snowfall warnings and extreme cold alerts. It’s no wonder Sudbury homeowners have been staying burrowed away in their homes with the heat cranked up high! 

As you begin to make the well-deserved transition from the frigid cold of winter to the welcoming temperatures of spring, keep in mind that your furnace might not be so forgiving. 

With temperatures falling so far below zero, heating systems have had to work extra hard just to keep up! So, before you close down your furnace for the year, we recommend following a seasonal shut-down checklist and checking for furnace repair warning signs. 

Taking extra care to ensure that your furnace is well-maintained before shutting it off for the season is going to help you: 

• Improve your heating performance.
• Improve your indoor air quality.
• Increase your energy efficiency. 
• Lower your utility bills. 
• And avoid untimely repairs this fall!

Spring furnace maintenance will also give you a headstart for the 2022-2023 winter season ahead.

Why is spring air conditioner maintenance so important?

The more obvious HVAC maintenance you’ll need to check off your list this spring is your pre-summer air conditioning tune-up. 

Unless you thought ahead last fall, when you turned your AC unit off for the winter, this part of your HVAC system is going to need a major tune-up. Including a deep cleaning of all indoor and outdoor components.

This thorough spring tune-up on your air conditioner will help you: 

• Extend the life of your AC unit.
• Improve the unit’s energy efficiency.
• Improve your indoor air quality.
• Improve cooling performance. 
• And more!

Did you know that many HVAC manufacturers need their units to receive regular, professional maintenance in order for their warranties to stay relevant? Keeping up with the seasonal maintenance needs of your air conditioner will ensure that your warranty remains in place! 

Spring HVAC Maintenance Checklist For Both Your Furnace and Air Conditioner

Now for the good part - your spring HVAC maintenance checklist. We made sure to make this list as practical and manageable as possible.

Your Seasonal Furnace Shut Down Checklist 

1. Change your furnace filter.

Changing your furnace filter is one of the most important spring furnace maintenance tasks you should have on your list. Why?

This quick filter replacement can: 

• Increase the lifespan of your furnace. 
• Improve your furnace efficiency. 
• Improve your indoor air quality. 
• Reduce your maintenance costs.

2. Clean out your vents and grilles. 

During the winter months, your supply vents and return grilles can become quite clogged with pet hair, dirt and dust. 

To clean these components for the upcoming spring season, you can simply use your indoor vacuum! 

3. Check your insulation. 

Insulation is a huge factor in keeping your house warm in winter and cool in the summer.

When checking your insulation, be sure to include: 

• Your home insulation (upstairs, downstairs, the attic etc.)
• Your internal HVAC unit insulation.
• The insulation around your pipes. 

4. Test your thermostat. 

Testing and resetting your thermostat before a new season begins is critical to ensuring that your HVAC system is running properly. 

If you’ve found that your thermostat is malfunctioning or even out of date, it might be time for an upgrade! 

If so, consider upgrading to a smart thermostat!

A smart thermostat has the incredible ability to: 

• Be controlled remotely using a smartphone. 
• Lower your energy costs. 
• Track energy usage and learn the unique patterns of your home. 
• Create a home energy profile that adjusts your heating and cooling needs automatically. 

5. Readjust your whole-house humidifier settings. 

Readjusting your whole-house humidifier settings goes hand in hand with resetting your thermostat. 

Indoor humidity levels should be set to a minimum of 40% during the winter months. But, as you transition from winter to summer, that humidity setting should be readjusted to a maximum of 60%. 

Learn more about Improving Your 2022 Indoor Air Quality With Optimal Humidity Control here!

Your Spring Air Conditioning Tune-up Checklist

1. Change your air filter. 

Changing your air conditioner filter is equally as important as changing your furnace filter. An old filter can cause an unnecessary buildup of dirt and debris in your AC unit. This buildup then causes your HVAC system to work harder and consume more energy to operate. 

We always recommend changing your HVAC filter every 30-90 days. 

2. Clean out (and around) your outdoor unit. 

After a long fall and winter season, your outdoor AC unit is likely full of leaves, dirt, branches etc. Clearing out a two-foot diameter around your outdoor unit can help your air conditioner operate more efficiently once turned on. 

3. Schedule your spring air duct cleaning. 

Spring air duct cleaning is a MUST. Metaphorically speaking, your air ducts are the lungs of your home. So, when you clear out the dust, mold and other airborne toxins in your ductwork, you instantly improve your indoor air quality. 

As we near the spring allergy season, cleaning out your ductwork can also drastically reduce your allergy symptoms. 

4. Repair air drafts and leaks within your home. 

Repairing air drafts in your home falls under the same category as improving your home insulation. After all, what’s the point of cooling your home in the summer if all that cool air is just blowing straight outdoors? 

Five Common places to look for air leaks in your home: 

• Window weather stripping 
• Door seals 
• Gas service entrances 
• Attic hatches 
• Dryer vent entrances 

5. Check your refrigerant levels. 

Lastly, before you turn your air conditioner on, you should always check your refrigerant levels. If the refrigerant levels are low, it means that there is a leak in your AC unit. This leak, if not repaired, can cause major and expensive damage to your air conditioner - including a new compressor! 

Schedule Your Professional Spring Air Conditioning Tune-Up 

If this list is overwhelming, or you simply do not have the time for it, you can also schedule a professional air conditioning tune-up! 

During a spring air conditioning tune-up, your HVAC technician will ensure that your system is 100% prepared for the summer season ahead. 

Contact Your Local Heating and Cooling Technicians at Campeau Heating 

We’re all excited to begin making that transition from winter to spring, but simply turning your furnace off and your air conditioner on is not the solution. 

Start your spring cleaning the right way with our spring HVAC maintenance checklist! And, if you need any help going through the steps, we highly encourage you to reach out to our team. We’ll inspect your HVAC system, note any necessary repairs/replacements and help ensure that your system is ready to go before the first heatwave hits! 

Contact our team today at (705) 560-2441 or Fill In This Form to get started on HVAC spring cleaning!