When the first official day of spring arrives, many of are still feeling the cold of winter, but before you know it summer will be here. Even if it hasn’t started warming up where you are yet, it is the ideal time to start thinking about spring maintenance for your HVAC system. This will ensure that your system can deliver peak performance and efficiency during the heavy demand of the air conditioning season. 
Tidy Your Landscaping:
Many people forget that the outdoor unit is a vital component of your air conditioning. When it is cold outside, you are not likely to even look it over. When spring arrives, you are likely to find that yard waste, trash and garden debris has accumulated around the unit, which can compromise its operation. As you get ready for summer, it is important to tidy your yard and landscaping to ensure that any debris has been removed. It is also a good idea to trim back any plants, trees or shrubbery that may enter the area around your outdoor unit. Ideally, there should be at least two feet of clear space around the unit, so when the plants do start to grow rapidly, you should keep checking for any intrusion.
Change Your Air Filters:
While this is not specific to any time of the year, you may have forgotten about your air filters over winter. Most manufacturers recommend that filters are cleaned or changed every 30 days to ensure that airflow is maintained. During the heavy usage in summer, you may find that your filters need to be cleaned or changed more frequently if you have pets or smokers in your family. A clogged filter forces your system to work harder, using more energy and causing hot spots that may make some areas of your home uncomfortable. If you are unsure about how to change the filters in your system, you should consult your owner’s manual for specific manufacturer instructions.
Inspection and Service:
Spring is also the ideal time to book your annual inspection and service. Once the warmer weather arrives, your technician may have a full schedule packed with breakdown call outs, so it is important to think about this early. A spring inspection and service also provides an opportunity for any minor issues to be corrected before they can develop into a major problem once the system is being used daily. Your technician will check the system for any worn or damaged components, and their replacement will be far cheaper than waiting for them to fail and trigger a breakdown.
If your system is getting older, this is also the time to have it assessed to determine if you can coax one more summer out of it or if it needs to be replaced. Although no one relishes the thought of needing to buy a new air conditioner, new models are offer far greater efficient than their older counterparts, which means that you could significantly reduce the cost of cooling your home and ensure that you feel comfortable regardless of high the summer temperatures get.