Your HVAC is an integral part of your home. It helps to control airflow and keep your living arrangements at a comfortable temperature all year round. Depending on your local climate, your HVAC can be in use pretty much all year, whether it cools in the heat or adds warmth when the temperatures drop.
It goes without saying that caring for it should be a priority as it is a heavily utilized appliance and one that is integral to your life. However, one report on ACHR News found that only 30% actively schedule HVAC maintenance, and many adopt an “if it’s not broke, don’t fix it” mentality toward their HVAC and other appliances.
Neglecting to maintain your HVAC system can have serious consequences for both the system and your home. A well-maintained HVAC system operates at its best, while a neglected one can lead to increased repairs, frequent breakdowns, higher energy bills, and uneven heating and cooling. These are not just inconveniences but potential threats to your comfort and budget.
As a homeowner, you play a crucial role in preventing your HVAC system from failing prematurely. By following these maintenance tips, you can actively preserve the lifespan and function of your system, ensuring it remains in good working order.
Clean the External Parts
This means both indoors and outdoors. You should ensure that all the physical aspects of your system are cleaned regularly. If you have an outdoor unit, you need to clear dirt and debris from it regularly, as any buildup can impact its functionality and cause massive problems if allowed to enter the unit or build up around it. The same goes for indoor vents and registers; dust building up or people putting items over vents blocks the airflow, and you need good airflow to maintain proper functionality.
Change Air Filters
As mentioned, airflow is pivotal to maintaining air quality and ensuring the HVAC works correctly and runs without added stress or strain on the system. With use, your filters can become clogged with debris, pollen, dust, etc., which will impact the air quality and flow through them.
Checking and changing your air filters every three months is a simple yet effective task that can significantly benefit your HVAC system. By doing this, you are taking a proactive step in ensuring your system runs correctly without the need for complex maintenance procedures.
Check Condenser Coils
Like the filters, the evaporator and condenser coils in your HVAC can accumulate buildup, which impacts its ability to operate correctly. The buildup will hinder the heat exchange, leading to poor performance and increased energy bills. Make it a point to regularly check the coils, use a soft brush and coil spray to remove any dirt and grime that might be present, and enjoy a better performance throughout the year.
Schedule Servicing
Regular servicing can help you identify any issues with your HVAC system and get them rectified, as well as check that all internal components and external ones are working as they need to be. All moving parts will be lubricated, coils cleaned or replaced as required, refrigerant levels checked, drains and elements cleaning will be carried out, and the furnace filter will be replaced. With this in mind, it’s imperative that you have a reputable air conditioning company you can use for scheduled maintenance and services as well as emergency callouts to facilitate a health system.
Clear the Condensate Drain
The condensate drain line, moreover, removes excess moisture from the system. Over time, there is a chance it can become blocked, which in turn leads to water leaks and potentially mold growth. You should check the drain line on a regular basis to ensure this isn’t occurring and clean it when you do check to reduce the risk of buildup and give you peace of mind that everything is fine and working as it should be.
Use The Thermostat Correctly
Using the thermostat correctly is crucial. Incorrect set thermostat settings add extra stress to the system and put it under strain when you’re using it. Knowing how to effectively change the thermostat to reduce this pressure can enable you to preserve its functionality and lifespan. You want to lower the thermostat when you’re not home and raise it to a comfortable level when you are home.
Don’t Close Vents
It can be tempting to close vents when you’re not using them or don’t want them on to save energy. However, this can have the opposite effect and make the system less effective. The reality is that closing a vent won’t stop airflow, or that vent will simply stop it from entering the room. The heat will build up, causing an uneven distribution and making your system work harder to heat the home. So whatever you do, don’t close vents.
Clean Ductwork
If your HVAC is banging or making excessive noise, there might be a buildup in your ducts. Checking them to make sure they’re clear and moving debris can stop this and prevent them from needing to work harder or be repaired because they are dirty.
Your home being extra dusty when it shouldn’t be can be an indicator that your vents need cleaning. Dust will be blown into the property as the air is distributed.
Don’t Attempt Repairs Yourself
Sure, there might be YouTube guides showing you how to replace specific parts or check for damage in your HVAC, but if you make one wrong move, you can compromise the safety of the unit and your home and family. It is always best to call for an experienced emergency Air Conditioning company to check over the unit and make any repairs rather than attempt them yourself. Not only can you potentially make the issue worse, leading to more costly repairs, but you can put your family at risk of carbon monoxide poisoning and complete system failure, too.
While there are many DIY maintenance tasks you can do yourself when it comes to maintaining your HVAC system, know your limits, and leave any complex repairs or handling to experts who know what they’re doing.
