Spring Cleaning in Sacramento: It’s Time to Have Your HVAC Inspected and Serviced
We love spring, and it’s coming round the bend here in the Valley! That means even more rain on top of what we’ve already had this year, but it also means warmer temperatures and perhaps the first hints of the summer to come. If it’s anything like last year it’ll be a scorcher and we’ll be running our air conditioning at home and in the office in no time. But we’re not there just yet, and that means you should schedule an appointment in the next few months to have your HVAC inspected and serviced. If you’re a regular blog reader, you know that winter can be harsh on many different HVAC components. Spring is a good time to make sure nothing bad has occurred over the winter months. There are other benefits as well — including fresh, clean air in your home.
Routine Maintenance
Hopefully you’ve been keeping up on your maintenance this winter as you’ve run your furnace or heat pump. If the last thing you did was a furnace tune-up, it’s time to change your air filters now and service the system sometime before April. We’re going to hit a point here soon where you may not be using your furnace or your air conditioner, and that’s generally when folks forget they even have them. It’s also a great time to get them serviced.
Repairs also need to be considered. If your furnace has developed an issue and you’re thinking of playing the “Well, it can wait til I turn it on again in the fall” game, think again! A broken system that’s not being run is still a broken system! Sometimes it will become more broken as time goes on, even if it’s not running. And that’s assuming the issue is only with your furnace and not something that will also affect your air conditioning…so get it fixed!
Winter Can Be Cruel
Our Valley winters are very wet indeed, and we’ve seen them result in pretty harsh HVAC damage. From moldy ducts to smashed condensers, it’s hard to relay how much can go wrong in the few short months of winter we have. If you’ve been following our blog, you’ll know that we’ve had a few posts talking about the specific problems winter can cause in our region, even though it rarely freezes and never snows.
Take charge of these seasonal issues. Get your AC serviced and pay close attention to the outdoor unit, which may have been damaged over the winter months without you realizing it. If you need to, clean your ducts. Your HVAC system is pretty tough, but it still needs a little TLC before it starts working hard this summer.
This is especially true after the El Niño winter we’ve had so far — and with more water and wind on the way. We’ve seen a lot of concern over condensers (the outdoor unit) this winter and installed a lot of condenser covers. One great example is a client in West Sacramento whose condenser was only a few years old but already seemed to be damaged. We found a thick sludge in the bottom that was preventing water from draining properly, and the result was a condenser sitting in a lot of muck and water, filling with debris and headed for disaster. We cleaned all that out and put on a Kool Kap cover—the brand we trust the most—and his problems went away!
That wouldn’t have done much for the clients we helped last week in Winters; wind and rain got to be too much and one of the overnight storms caused a massive branch to fall from a tree in their backyard. Nobody was hurt, and the house was miraculously untouched, but it put a pretty good dent in their condenser and they wanted to make sure it was alright. We’ve seen that a few times over the years. While a cover won’t stop big damage like that from occurring, it’s still a good idea. And it’s a good idea to fix winter damage before spring and summer start.
The Perfect Season
Just as Central Valley spring can have us using heat and AC in the same week (or day!), it can also be a time where we don’t need our HVAC system for a week or more! This makes it the ideal time for repair and maintenance since it’s unlikely to be too uncomfortable in your home if you have to go without HVAC for a day or two. That also makes it the perfect season to have HVAC equipment installed. If you’re considering a new air conditioner this year, consider doing it sooner rather than later. Get it done before you end up with another Sacramento summer in an inadequately conditioned home!
So whether you want an estimate on a new system, more information about how we’ll match your rebates, or just need a few things fixed this spring, make Bell Brothers your choice for professional HVAC work this spring. We’re here to make your home comfortable!