Summer Is Coming! Clean Your Fans!

As you may already know, the snow season is over and we are entering the air conditioning season. In the Niagara region, with our hot and humid summers, it is especially important that all of your equipment for keeping your home or business cool and dry is in good working order. There are things you can do to make sure your home or business stays cool this summer, some are easy and some are a bit more difficult.

Clean Your Fans!

Fan blades, whether the fan is mounted on the ceiling or is a table fan, can accumulate a noticeable amount of dust from being in use for a long time. There may be other things, like dust bunnies or even spiders that could surprise you when you turn the fan on if you don’t clean it beforehand. 

Tip: Clean your fan blades with a duster, like a Swiffer duster, before turning it on for the first time.

Tip: For table fans, you could use a can of air for cleaning computers to spray the dust off the fan blades, without having to take the fan apart to clean it.

Change Your Furnace Filter!

If you have a forced-air furnace / air conditioning system in your home, it is important to change the filter(s) regularly and replace them with the appropriate new filters. Please refer to the instructions for your specific furnace or consult an HVAC Technician for more information about this. Furnace filters prevent dust from being blown all over your home. They are an important part of your HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning) system. By changing your furnace filter every 30 to 90 days, depending on what the manufacturer of your furnace recommends, you can help keep your home cleaner.

Tip: Mark on your calendar when you need to change your furnace filter, so you don’t forget to do it!

Tip: Have an extra furnace filter on hand, just in case.

Check Your Dehumidifier!

Do you have a dehumidifier in your basement working tirelessly day and night? Maybe you don’t remember putting it there because it was so long ago. Perhaps it is time to check on your dehumidifier and clean it!

Dehumidifiers have a filter to prevent them from getting dusty inside. This filter needs to be cleaned periodically. 

Check the cord to make sure the cord is intact, with the plug and cord not having any damage or exposed wires that could pose a hazard to you and your home.

Tip: Clean the dehumidifier filter with cold tap water in the sink and wipe it with a microfiber cloth.

Tip: Wipe off the outside of the dehumidifier with a damp microfiber cloth to keep it looking as good as it works!

What About The Cold Air Returns?

Cold air returns are the vents that allow air to come back to the air handling unit of your furnace / air conditioner if you have a forced air system in your home. These are usually located on the lower part of walls or in the floor, allowing hot air to rise and cool air to fall, as is normal for the convection of heat.

Cold air returns often have angled slats that allow air to flow through them while preventing objects from getting into the duct behind it. These slats can become covered with dust and grime. It is both unsightly and can affect the function of the cold air return when it is partially or completely obstructed with debris!

Uplift Cleaning Company routinely cleans the outside grate of cold air returns in the homes we service. We do this by vacuuming them, and if they need more attention, wiping the grate with a microfiber cloth and some soapy water. 

Tip: Vacuum your cold air returns when you vacuum your floor every time!

Tip: If the vacuum doesn’t get all of the debris off the cold air return grate, you can use a microfiber cloth and soapy water to clean the grate by wiping it off thoroughly.

What About The Outside Unit?

The outside unit, called a condenser, is where a home’s central air conditioning takes the heat from inside your home and puts it outside into the environment. This unit may be surrounded by vegetation and trees, living in a forgotten area beside your home where people rarely go to check on it. It is important to make sure that this unit is in good working order, or your air conditioning may not work properly.

There should not be grass or trees overgrown around it, preventing the unit from operating or from blowing large quantities of warm air through it, as this is where the warm air from inside your home is discharged. Where the air blows out, usually on the top, and the area surrounding the condenser, should be free of trees, tall grass, or other potential obstructions.

Tip: When you cut your grass, make sure to clear any grass or other vegetation from around your air conditioner condenser, so that it does not have anything close to it or growing into it.

Tip: Make it a habit to regularly check on home devices that live outside of your home.

This can be your air conditioner condenser, clothes dryer exhaust vent, water heater exhaust vent, furnace exhaust vent, and other vents or devices that exist on the outside of your home.  

Check Your Windows!

Having windows that are not leaking cooled air from the inside of your home to outside is important for your home to get and stay cool in the hot and humid weather of a Niagara summer. 

Seasonal deep cleaning can be helpful, including cleaning the windows, to find issues with windows like water leaks, broken or damaged windows, and broken or damaged window frames. 

Tip: Not only does cleaning your windows every season keep them and the great outdoors looking amazing, but also lets you inspect them for damage.

Tip: If you want clean windows inside and out, consider hiring a professional.

Make This The Best Summer Ever!

Summer 2026 may just be the best summer ever! At least that is what we can aspire for. Having your home cool and comfortable through the hot and humid weather of a Niagara summer is important for your comfort, and depending on your health, your safety. 

Taking a moment to check on equipment and vents, clean or change filters, and making sure none of your home machinery is forgotten, can help make a hot Niagara summer easier on you and your home!

If you need your home or office cleaned, Uplift Cleaning Company provides cleaning services throughout the Niagara region.