Spring Cleaning Tips for Top-Notch HVAC Efficiency: Part 2

Alright, so let’s get back to optimizing your HVAC system for top efficiency again.

Here’s what else you can do:

1. Clean the Evaporator Coil

The evaporator coil is where your air conditioner absorbs heat. So if you have a dirty evaporator coil, you HVAC system can’t do that as efficiently, and you end up paying for it.

Most evaporator coils are bent into a U-shape and set into panels shaped like the letter A. If you take off the cover of the cabinet protecting your AC unit (which you should only do after you turn off your circuit breaker), you’ll notice a big mess of pipes weaving back and forth.

That’s what you’re looking for.

You can get no-rinse evaporator coil cleaner online or at your local hardware store to do the job. You can also create a solution of dishwasher soap and distilled water, which you then rinse off with white vinegar.

2. Inspect Your Duct Work

Ducts sag, split, and leak air slowly over time. It can actually be fairly hard to find some of the smaller leaks in your ducts.

However, you have a good chance of finding the leaks by lighting an incense stick and passing it around your ductwork.

When you see the smoke move, you’ve found a leak. Don’t use plain old duct tape to seal the leak!

Instead, use mastic or foil tape specifically designed to seal ducts and give you maximum efficiency.

3. Check Your Freon

This is actually quite easy to check on your own. Simply go outside and find the copper lines running from your HVAC system to your home.

You don’t even need to pull the cover off your air conditioning system. And you should even make this check while your AC unit runs.

Anyway, the copper line running to your home should feel quite cold to the touch.

If it doesn’t, then you probably have a freon problem. However, freon doesn’t need periodic changing or replenishment.

So, this likely means you have a leak somewhere. And that means it’s probably time to give an HVAC service a call, unless you’re the super-handy DIY type.

4. Don’t Use Your Register for Temperature Control

Closing your interior registers actually increases air pressure and the overall load on your AC system.

When closed, the cooled air bounces off the closed register and gets redistributed elsewhere in your home.

But, when open, the air travels a straight path, without having to be redirected.

So, you get better efficiency when the conditioned air travels a shorter path.

If you want temperature control in specific rooms of your home, then it’s time to invest in a zoning system.

As far as the simple maintenance for your AC system goes, that’s about it. You can do more. But it requires additional time and more skill.

If you do this much, however, you set up your AC system for pretty high efficiency.