Updated 4/01/22
Mowing and painting your home are ways to improve your home and its value. Similarly, you can also do simple things to keep your air conditioning and heating operating when you need them. Maintenance also prevents unplanned emergencies and extends the life of your system. The first thing you need to do is change your filters. Filters trap dust and other organisms from the air. Without ductwork cleaning services, your family can experience health problems. So, replace your filters every 1-3 months. If you have pets or allergies, you can replace them more frequently.
Inspect and clean the area around the AC and furnace unit. Remove leaves and vegetation that may obstruct your outside unit’s airflow. Trim bushes and pollen-producing plants because they clog condensing units. In addition, drain the drain pan and pipe for algae or mold buildup. If you are unsure where the drain pipe is, you can ask a technician or check the AC duct system diagram. Always ensure your AC and HVAC system are regularly maintained by a professional. Preventive maintenance prevents costly repairs and reduces energy bills. Schedule your system’s maintenance before every season to avoid inconvenient breakdowns. However, hire a qualified professional for the task. If you don’t know more about HVAC technicians, check the information online.
If you are like most homeowners (or renters), you do not spend a lot of time thinking about your heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) unit. Most people avoid thinking about theirs unless there is a problem and that is never the best time to look for HVAC repair companies to help. If your system is having issues, the chances are good that so are lots of people in your area. There are some things you can do to help your system run smoothly without having to call an HVAC services company to get your unit running again.
- Keep an eye (and ear) on your unit. Everyone loves their HVAC unit when it is keeping their home comfy and cosy. To make that the norm, it is a good idea to pay attention to how it sounds. This is good to do because the better you you know your equipment, the more likely you are going to be to catch a small problem before it becomes a much bigger deal to fix. Remember that, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” in the world of HVAC carte and feeding.
- Have a good relationship with an HVAC services company. Do not wait until you need an emergency with an HVAC company to work with one. If you use one company to do your maintenance and help when you need it, you will not only have a unit that is less likely to break down when you need it most but you will be in a better position to get someone to your home when you need them right away. Think about it. When a storm or other bad weather hits your city, all of the people who work with an HVAC services company are going to be swamped with calls. If they know you, you will get a better deal and have a better chance of getting a technician to your residence sooner rather than later. Call around and talk to a HVAC services before you need their services.
- Do the scheduled check ups and maintenance as you need to. No one really loves having all of the maintenance done on their home and on their appliances but it can make a big difference. The more often your system is checked, the more likely any small problems will be caught and dealt with before they grow into giant monsters. Another thing you should watch is the filters for your unit. The frequency with which you should check these is dependent on the unit you have and the amount of usage it gets. You can talk to your manufacturer to get a schedule but another idea is to just check yours out from time to time. Remember, dirty and clogs can lead to system failure and may be a fire hazard.
- Pay attention to your bills and your thermostat. You look at your bills when you pay them but how closely? When you get your utility bill, check the trajectory of your usage. If it is going up, you may have some seepage or you may need some cleaning. If your appliances and thermostat are old, you want want to upgrade to an Energy Star rated product. There may even be some local, state or federal rebates you will be able to get when you make that switch so that your upgrade will pay for itself. Make sure your thermostats are in the right area. If they are next to something that produces hot or cold air, your system may be working when you do not need it to be on.
- Install a digital thermostat. You can get thermostats that allow you to program them to be in use only when people are around and active in your home. Some models allow you to cool or heat some areas such as bedrooms when people are there and then cut back off when they are not. You can even do all of this remotely. If you need help, the local HVAC services company can do it for you.
Keeping your HVAC unit happy will keep your home comfortable all year, through all four seasons.
