HVAC & Plumbing Spring Cleaning Tips You Can’t Forget
When most people think about their spring cleaning to-do list, their home’s HVAC and plumbing systems might not be top priorities. However, that shouldn’t be the case if you want to properly prepare your home for the new season to come!
There are quite a few things you can do on your end to make sure both your HVAC and plumbing systems are operating at optimum capacity for months to come, and it would serve you well to be aware of them! Here are some tips to think about during your spring cleaning routine.
HVAC
- Replace Your Air Filters. While you can get away with changing your air filters every few months, it’s not a bad idea to change them even more frequently! We would recommend changing them every month, but it also depends on what kind of air filter you go with. If you decide to implement HEPA air filters in your home, you can use those for up to six months and clean them with a vacuum nozzle periodically as you see fit.
- Check Your Heating & Air Conditioning Equipment. If a new season is about to begin and your air conditioner has been sitting idle all winter long, it can’t hurt to go visually check it out and make sure there are no obviously glaring issues. While you’re not a professional, most of the time you’ll be able to notice something severely out of the ordinary, and if that’s the case you should definitely give Combat a call.
- Clear Out Your HVAC Drainage Opening. Most air conditioning units have a drainage hole at the base, underneath the evaporator fins, that needs to stay clear. It’s not a bad idea to use something small like a bobby pin or any kind of wire to poke through and clean out the opening. It’s an easy thing we can do ourselves to help out the daily function of our home’s AC system.
Plumbing
- Clean Off Your Showerhead. Vinegar is going to be one of your new best friends when it comes to cleaning off your plumbing fixtures, and your showerhead is no exception! You can easily remove any built-up mildew or limescale by filling up a clear plastic bag with vinegar and fully submerging your showerhead in it for 24 hours, then rinsing it off afterwards. Your showerhead should be looking and working good as new after doing this!
- Shower Curtain Refresh. Periodically washing and cleaning your shower curtains is something most people don’t think about doing, but is often a necessary step that many allow to fall to the wayside! You can throw both your shower curtain and the plastic lining in the wash with some towels you don’t really care about anymore to help get rid of any mildew or soap scum that’s built up over time.
- Clean Out Your Drains. One way you can try to get rid of any lingering clogs in your drains is by utilizing vinegar (again) and baking soda. First, pour a good amount of baking soda down the drain then vinegar afterwards. After that, you should leave your hot water running down the drain for at least a minute or two which will help to rid your pipes of any minor blockages that have been affecting your home’s drainage. Using baking soda and vinegar is an easy way to do some DIY cleaning of your pipes, and your sinks, toilets and tubs as well.
While spring cleaning may be something most people don’t look forward to, you’ll be glad that you took these extra steps to improve the efficiency of your HVAC and plumbing systems.
If you’ve followed these steps but have lingering concerns about your plumbing or HVAC systems, it’s time to call Combat at (773) 724-9272. We’ll thoroughly check your systems and make sure you’re ready for the warmer weather to come!
