It may be hard to believe for some (especially if the weather app suggests otherwise), but Spring is only 10 days away. In some parts of North America, this means a transition from heating to cooling, and that transition isn’t always linear. It’s an important time to schedule an appointment with your service technician, and the experts at ENA Solution can help if you don’t already have one. 

Ahead of that meeting, we’ve built a handy checklist for some of the tune-up efforts you can perform, plus those you’ll want the professionals to complete. We’ve even added a few bonus tips for how to use ENASTAT most effectively during this transitional time so you can enjoy the warmer temperatures without any HVAC hiccups.  

Self-Service Maintenance 

Thermostat Settings Update: You’ll want to first make sure you accounted for daylight savings time in any schedule you’ve set, otherwise your system will be running off by an hour. (ENASTAT takes the liberty of doing this for you!) You also want to switch to the right system mode and setpoint for springt. We have more ENASTAT-specific pointers for you in the bonus section!  

Spring Cleaning: Your evaporator coil and drain lines can get filthy over the course of the winter thanks to the warm, moist air. To combat buildup of mildew and mold, use spray cleaners for your evaporator coil and a garden hose or wet vac to clean out the drain line. This may be something your service tech can handle if you don’t feel up for the task. And on the subject of cleaning, you’ll want to inspect your outdoor condensing unit which can be impacted by dirt and debris buildup. For starters, you can vacuum the inside once you’ve removed the cover. Then simply remove any dirt buildup around the unit, especially near the ducting that goes inside. 

Filter Refresh: It’s something we’ve been all over on this blog, but changing your filters is one of the simplest, most effective things you can do to increase the efficiency of your HVAC system. Fortunately ENASTAT will provide reminders so you don’t have to rely on your own memory! 

Humidifier Shutdown: Of course this depends on where in the world you’re reading this from, but for many North Americans the humidifier is not needed during the cooling season. Either turn off the water supply to the unit, or flip the dedicated control switch. 

Pro Tune-Ups

It’s highly recommended a professional assesses your system twice annually, especially if you have a seasonal shift from heating to cooling (and vice versa). While companies’ offerings may vary, here are some things you should look for in a maintenance plan:  

• Visual inspection
• Component replacement (where worn); this can often be belts or connectors 
• Check and refill refrigerant
• Leak detection 
• Compressor and motor review 

Bonus ENA Tips 

ENA Solution boasts advanced functionality and control with the family of ENASTAT smart commercial thermostats. Because the seasonal switch can prove especially challenging for HVAC operators, we’ve created a number of solutions to ease and optimize the transition. 

• Dual-Fuel Capabilities: ENASTAT makes it easy to switch between your natural gas and electric systems automatically to achieve a desired setpoint. 
• Fresh Air Optimizer: As temperatures rise, and if you’re located in a region with cool nighttime temperatures and low humidity, ENASTAT will trigger your economizer to introduce fresh outside air to lower the temperature without the expense of air conditioning.
• Dehumidifier: Operating as a Humidistat, ENASTAT will drive your dehumidifier during the warmer months to remove from the air the uncomfortable moisture that prevents your body from cooling as effectively. 
• Heat-Cool Conserve and Heat-Cool Comfort: As you go through the transition period from heating to cooling, you can choose in the ENA App to prioritize comfort (i.e. let one unit run heating and the other cooling), or efficiency (no fighting between units). 
• Drycool: If your space is excessively humid, indoor air quality may suffer and you could experience mold or other water-related issues. If you don’t have a dehumidifier, ENASTAT will run the air conditioner to lower the air temperature 1-2 degrees, taking moisture out of the space in the process.

Change can be hard, but fortunately the migration from cooler months to warmer ones doesn’t have to be. Work with your local service technician or the expert ENASTAT team and we’ll make sure your system is ready for whatever spring and summer may throw at it this year!