13 Mar Chief Heating & Cooling Shares Expert Tips for Spring Cleaning Your HVAC System
It’s that time of year Kansas City homeowners start tackling spring cleaning. It’s an annual rite of passage, and many have a written or mental checklist of what needs to be cleaned. If your HVAC system isn’t on that list, it should be. And, if it’s on your list, make sure to follow our experts cleaning tips so that your hard work helps your HVAC system run smoothly and efficiently.
Your HVAC System’s Filter is Too Important to Ignore (or Forget)
One item that deserves to be at the top of your spring cleaning list is your heating and cooling system’s air filter. Even though your filter is often an “out of sight and out of mind” part, it serves two very important roles:
- It helps keep the air in your home a little cleaner, reducing the buildup of dust on furniture and helping you breathe a little easier.
- It helps reduce dust and dirt buildup on your HVAC system’s internal components, so the system operates more efficiently.
The consequences of a dirty HVAC system air filter are serious, especially considering filters are affordable and easy to change. A dirty filter can reduce your comfort (breathing dusty air and having to dust furniture more often), lower heating and cooling energy efficiency and make your system work harder. In more extreme cases, a dirty filter can cause your HVAC system to shut down completely due to severely restricted air flow.
Replacing the Filter is Easy
Chief Heating & Cooling technicians are happy to change your HVAC system filter for you. A filter change can be part of a maintenance or service call. But, if you’re comfortable changing it yourself, follow our experts’ tips.
To replace your air filter:
Locate the filter. In most heating and cooling systems, the air filter is located inside your home either in a basement, utility closet or garage. You’ll find it attached to the blower section of your air handler (usually a furnace or fan coil).
Can’t find it?
Look inside the furnace or fan coil cabinet. Or look outside the cabinet in the return air vent for its own separate access panel or door.
- Turn off your HVAC system. You can turn off the system using the thermostat settings or by using the power cutoff switch (often looks like a light switch) typically mounted on the side of the furnace or fan coil.
- Remove and inspect the filter. Before removing the filter, double check the system is turned off AND note the direction airflow arrows are pointing on your filter so you know which way to face the new filter. Remove the filter and inspect it. If there is an obvious buildup of dirt or dust, or you can’t see light through the filter, it’s time to replace it. Chief Heating & Cooling sells replacement filters and they’re available many retail stores and online. If there is only light buildup or you can see light through the filter, use your judgment. Inexpensive, one-inch filters should be replaced every two to three months. Four-inch media filters can last up to 1 year, but should be inspected every two to three months. Always use the right-sized filter, which is easy since the dimensions are clearly marked on it.
- Replace the filter and close the cabinet door. Carefully slide the new filter into place with airflow arrows pointing the right way, as noted in step 3. Close or replace the air handler cabinet door or filter cabinet door.
- Restore power. Turn on the system at the thermostat or using the power cutoff switch located on the side of the furnace or fan coil.
Chief Heating & Cooling is Here to Help with Your HVAC System
Changing your air filter is one of the easiest things you can do to keep your HVAC system running as it should. For more complicated maintenance and service, one call to Chief Heating & Cooling is all it takes to accurately diagnosis and fix any problems.