Updating Your HVAC Unit

About Me

Updating Your HVAC Unit

Growing up, I spent a lot of time at my paternal grandmother’s home during the hot summer months. I grew up in the southern United States where the temperatures routinely soared to the triple digits on some summer days. Unfortunately, my grandmother only had one small window air conditioning unit in her sprawling farmhouse. On particularly hot days, my grandmother, my numerous cousins, and I would hover around this tiny air conditioning system all day long. Sadly, my dear grandmother died before she had the opportunity to update her HVAC unit. If you’re tired of using inadequate window air conditioners, consider replacing them with a central heating and air conditioning unit. On this blog, you will discover the many benefits of choosing a central heating and air conditioning system.

Archive

Tags

Clean A Baseboard Heating System So That It Will Be Ready For Use This Winter

If you have a baseboard heating system, cleaning it while it is still warm outside will ensure that it is ready for use when the weather turns colder. The following steps will instruct you on how to remove dust, debris, and blockages from the baseboard heater with a few, basic tools and cleaning supplies.

Materials

  • rubber gloves
  • vinyl tarp
  • scrub brush (with stiff bristles)
  • vacuum cleaner (with hose attachment)
  • fin tool
  • putty knife
  • soapy water
  • sponge
  • lint-free towel

​Remove The Front Cover And Eliminate Dirt And Debris

Place a vinyl tarp on the floor in front of the baseboard heater so that dust and debris falls onto it while you are cleaning the heater. Put on a pair of rubber gloves to keep your hands clean. Remove the front cover to the heater. Inspect the interior components. You will see a long tube with metal fins sticking out of it. This is fin tubing and it is responsible for transferring the heat from the tube to the air.

Loosen any debris that is stuck between the fins with a stiff-bristled scrub brush. Pull the brush firmly through the fins as you work your way down the length of the tube. Use the hose from a vacuum cleaner to suck up any small pieces of dust or debris that you are unable to pull loose with the scrub brush. 

Straighten The Fins And Wipe Off The Metal Surface

Visually inspect the metal fins. They need to be spaced out evenly in order for the heat to blow steadily through the heater's vents. If any of the fins are bent, press them back into shape with a fin tool or putty knife. Apply pressure to each bent fin with the tool as you move the fin in the direction that you would like it to go.

Wipe off the baseboard's metal exterior with a soapy sponge to remove surface stains and dust that was not removed with the vacuum cleaner. Rinse out the sponge and wipe off the same surfaces. Dry the metal with a lint-free towel.

Place the cover back on the heater and dispose of any dirt and debris that is on the vinyl tarp. The heater is ready to be used when it turns colder and you will not have to worry about dirty buildup blocking the vents. Inspect and clean the baseboard heater after excessive use to keep it operating the proper way. If the heaters still aren't warming your home, consider a new heating system installation before winter arrives.


Share