With the early bout of warm weather in the Richmond area this weekend, it’s not too early to start planning for your HVAC system’s Spring maintenance.  As you may know, Marshall Mechanical is an authorized Lennox dealer and we specialize in helping you to maintain your heating and air conditioning equipment so that you can enjoy comfort and energy savings all year long, for many years to come.  Below is an excellent Spring HVAC maintenance checklist* and reminders to help you best maintain your HVAC equipment this year.

Keep your cool with simple A/C maintenance

• Clear leaves, brush and dirt from inside your air conditioner’s top grille.
• Trim nearby shrubs and bushes to allow at least two feet of clearance around the unit.
• Set the thermostat to cooling mode and run your air conditioner a few minutes to make sure it’s working.
• Schedule an annual checkup of your air conditioning system.
• Replace your air conditioner filter once a month. Dirty filters restrict air flow and can waste energy.
• If you use a room air conditioner, install it on a north-facing wall to keep it out of the sun.
• If it’s time to replace your air conditioner, look for an ENERGY STAR® qualified model to help reduce cooling costs up to 20 percent.

 Don’t let April showers bring May mildew

• Clear leaves, pine needles and other debris from gutters and downspouts to ensure proper drainage. Check that they’re stable to avoid flying debris during storms.
• Be sure downspouts slope away from your house. They should carry water at least 5′ from foundation walls.
• Position lawn sprinklers so they don’t spray your home’s walls.
• Examine window and door seals and weatherstripping. Reseal if needed.
• Move furniture a few inches away from the inside of exterior walls to increase air circulation.
• Check windows for condensation and walls for water stains, which are signs of too much humidity.
• Keep your home’s relative humidity between 30 – 50%. A humidity control system such as Humiditrol® can safely control humidity.

 Take control of home energy costs

• Reduce air leaks in your home by caulking, sealing and weatherstripping around doors and windows.
• Use exhaust fans to reduce moisture in the kitchen or bath, but turn them off when they’re no longer needed.
• Make sure your refrigerator’s seals are airtight. Test by closing the door over a dollar bill. If you can pull the dollar out easily, the seal may need to be adjusted.
• Wash only full loads in your dishwasher and clothes washer.
• Turn off lights you don’t need to save energy and reduce extra heat in your home.
• If it’s time to replace your air conditioner, choose an energy-efficient model with two-stage cooling, such as the XC-21.  Two levels of operation allow you to rely on the low setting most of the time and it runs at low speed 80% of the time, which means lower operating costs, more consistent comfort and better humidity control.
• Prepare dinner on your outdoor grill to help reduce your air conditioner’s load.
• Check ducts for air leaks, including holes or separated sections.

After having such a cold and snowy winter here in the Greater Richmond area, I think we’re all be glad that Spring is not too far around the corner.  Remember, Marshall Mechanical is uniquely qualified to handle all your HVAC maintenance needs and we can help you protect your equipment and the investment you’ve made in your home.  To schedule your Spring HVAC check-up, simply call our office at 804.323.0189 to schedule your appointment today.

*These tips are brought to you by Lennox International Inc. and Marshall Mechanical as an authorized dealer.  © 2010 Lennox with all rights reserved.