Do you think your HVAC system is ready for the spring season? You may want to make sure that it is. While the weather right now is a welcome relief after the cold winter season, it will only get hotter from this day on. It will go on for a couple of months. You do not want you or your family to suffer the heat if your cooling system decides to crash on you. This is why you need to get your air conditioning system in order.

During the winter season, your air conditioner was turned off. After all, you do not need to cool off when the weather outside is freezing. That means you probably last used your air conditioner during the last days of summer. From autumn until winter, you preferred to make your home warmer. The time between then until the beginning of spring is a long time. You need to make sure the HVAC system is working properly after not being used for practically half the year.

The truth is, you will really need the air conditioning system to be fully functional when the summer season is near. However, it pays to have it in perfect working condition during the spring season. That way, if there is a problem, you still have enough time to have it repaired – or if needed, replaced.

So what are the things that you need to do in order to get your HVAC system conditioned for the spring season?

Remove the cover

If you have an outdoor unit, you most likely had it covered during the winter season. Now that it is springtime, you might want to get rid of that cover so you can assess if there are some damages to your air conditioner. You should also check the perimeter and clean the area to remove the dirt and debris that accumulated while it was covered.

Change the air filter

This should also be a good time to change the air filter. You want to start using it with a fresh filter. That will ensure that the quality of the air that will circulate in your home is clean. This is actually something that you can do on your own. Just get an air filter that fits your air conditioner and replaces the one that you currently have. This seemingly simple task will actually help your system work efficiently. Make sure you take note of the date of replacement because you need to replace the filter every thirty days or so – especially during the summer season.

Check the ductwork

After the air filter, you also have to check the ductwork to make sure that there are no leaks. This is actually something that you can have a professional do for you. When there is a leak, you will have a problem with cooling your home. It will take longer to reach the temperature that you want – making the air conditioner work harder than it has to. It will also increase your energy consumption. So if there is a leak, you need to have that fixed. While you are at it, have the insulation checked as well.

Get a programmable thermostat

If you do not have it yet, you should consider getting a programmable thermostat. This is very useful if you want to keep your energy consumption low. You can use this to control the temperature in your home – especially if you are not there. You can adjust the temperature (or turn the whole thing off) while nobody is home so the HVAC system will not consume too much energy. Then you can adjust it before anyone gets home. That way, the house will be comfortable when everyone gets inside the door.

Opt for an upgrade

In case your system is old and in need of replacement, the spring season is the best time for you to have a new one installed. You can upgrade it so it will be more energy efficient. The old models may be sturdy but most of them are not built to be energy efficient.

Schedule a check-up

If there is a perfect time to schedule a maintenance check-up, this is it. Call the local service provider so they can have your HVAC system checked out. If there is anything written above that you do not understand or you do not want to do on your own, then it is best to call a professional as early as possible. Most likely, people will schedule a maintenance checkup during this time so it is best to call them early.