Springtime in Southwest Florida brings some of the most amazing weather of the year. For most of us locals, spring is also an ideal time for tidying up and giving our homes a little extra TLC. In the transition from the winter months, your HVAC and plumbing systems likely need some attention to ensure they can handle the upcoming heat and humidity.
This is where our team at Plumbing & Cooling Nerds comes in. Every day, we have several skilled plumbers and HVAC technicians in the field providing local homeowners with valuable insights on how to maintain their HVAC and plumbing systems. We advise Southwest Florida residents like you on how to keep these vital components running efficiently and optimally when the summer weather arrives.
With that in mind, here are our six springtime maintenance recommendations for keeping your HVAC and plumbing systems cool and comfortable all summer long.
1. Switch Out Your Air Filters
One simple yet effective way to ensure peak indoor air comfort during the warmer months is by changing your HVAC system’s air filters. The air quality inside your home is crucial, and swapping out old, clogged-up filters helps maintain superior air quality. Moreover, a new air filter also stops indoor air pollutants from circulating through your living spaces and potentially impacting your family’s respiratory health.
While this is a relatively easy task that you can accomplish yourself, it’s just one element of a complete routine maintenance checkup. Our qualified technicians at Plumbing & Cooling Nerds can handle this task for you, along with several other critical aspects of the tune-up, during your scheduled appointment. Clogged filters can potentially damage your HVAC system by causing it to run non-stop. So, we can’t overemphasize the importance of changing filters as recommended.
2. Test Your Cooling System
Before the Southwest Florida heat gets out of hand, check your AC to ensure it performs up to task. The last thing you should do is wait until you’re in the middle of a historical heat wave to only discover your AC isn’t working. You may have to wait days before restoring your system to its original functionality. You can test your AC by turning it on and checking for any telltale signs of trouble.
If your HVAC unit exhibits unusual noises, weak airflow, or uneven cooling, it’s likely time to call one of our technicians. You can also take a look at your thermostat to verify its accuracy and responsiveness. Faulty thermostats contribute to poor temperature readings. This problem, in turn, will drive up your energy bills and lead to a less-than-comfortable indoor environment.
Testing your cooling system in the winter and early spring is one reliable approach for sparing yourself the inconvenience of a breakdown during a notorious heatwave. If you notice anything amiss with your system, just give our team at Plumbing & Cooling Nerds a call.
3. Inspect for Plumbing Leaks and Cracks
As you know, Southwest Florida’s warm summer doesn’t always make for a perfect day at the beach. The region’s intense heat means you probably use your plumbing system more than the average U.S. homeowner. These heightened usage levels make it more likely that cracks and leaks will develop within your water pipes. Even the smallest imperfection can turn into costly plumbing issues, particularly as the demand on your system rises.
Also, take a few minutes to survey your property, looking for dripping faucets and potential leaky pipes outside your dwelling. An unexplained increase in your water bill is another sign that something might be amiss with your plumbing system. If you suspect a hidden leak that you can pinpoint, reach out to our plumbing team at Plumbing & Cooling Nerds. We have the tools and know-how to uncover hidden plumbing system faults like these.
4. Clear Your Air Vents and Registers
Keeping your home’s air vents and registers obstruction-free is crucial for maintaining an evenly cooled indoor air environment. Blocked ducts and airways cause your HVAC system to work harder than it should. When your system becomes overworked from uneven cooling and heating, it can potentially take years off its useful life. The best way to check for uneven cooling in your home is by powering up the AC system on a warmer spring day and checking each room for inconsistencies.
If some of your rooms seem warmer than others, inspect your vents to make sure they’re not obstructed by furniture or window coverings. If you haven’t cleaned them for a while, use your vacuum to clear the dust and debris before wiping the additional buildup. If this isn’t a normal part of your cleaning routine, spring is an ideal time to check on your vents and registers. Cleaning may not resolve your problem, however. You might require a more comprehensive duct cleaning service or have another, more complex issue with your HVAC system.
5. Service Your Water Heater
As much as you enjoy staying cool during the warmer months, a well-maintained water heater is still essential for your hot water needs. Everybody appreciates a good shower after a long day at one of our gorgeous Gulf beaches. But, if you don’t regularly service your water heater, sediment accumulates at the bottom. This accumulation insulates the water from the heating element. If this is the case, you will start noticing your once-hot showers have turned lukewarm.
A poorly maintained water heater, not unlike your HVAC system, has to work harder to deliver hot water. This leads to excessive energy consumption while increasing the wear and tear on the water heater itself. Our professionals at Plumbing & Cooling Nerds can swiftly flush out any performance-hindering sediment in your water heater. We’ll also inspect your pressure relief valve, an important safety element that prevents the unit from operating under dangerously high-pressure levels. Our team will examine every component of your water heater with the goal of ensuring its safe and optimal performance.
6. Schedule a Professional HVAC Inspection
Staying on top of your preventive HVAC maintenance before the hot summer arrives is about more than your comfort. Your safety and well-being rely on an optimally functioning HVAC system. When you schedule a professional HVAC inspection with one of our skilled technicians, you can depend on us to catch the small issues other providers don’t. This is how we prevent common, minor HVAC problems from escalating into costly system repairs down the road.
During the inspection, we’ll examine your electrical connections, test your safety controls, and check your refrigerant levels. Our technician will, likewise, complete various checks to ensure your system delivers optimal indoor air quality. Routine HVAC maintenance like this protects your investment and lengthens the lifespan of your system.
Remember, spring is the best time to inspect the plumbing and HVAC systems at your Southwest Florida home. Our inspection can help you avoid scheduling an expensive emergency repair during peak summer weather. We also offer kitchen, toilet, pipe repair and other plumbing services as well as installation, repair, and maintenance for heating and cooling systems plus home energy audits and indoor air quality testing.
To schedule your annual spring heating, cooling and plumbing system inspection, call us at Plumbing & Cooling Nerds, your Southwest Florida HVAC and plumbing experts, today!
