You may think that you don’t have to pay much attention to your HVAC system now that winter is in full force. Isn’t cooling and air conditioning repair done before the summer? Well, yes and no. If you have system that does both, which most do, nowadays, then you’ll need to make sure that you maintaining both the heating and cooling portions of you system. You may feel like the cooling portion is not being used so therefore is being given a chance to rest in the winter but that’s not true. The heating portion uses the same parts as the cooling so your system in general is getting used all year round. If you want to keep your HVAC system properly working with minimal malfunctions and break downs that there are certain things that you need to do in order to keep up with the maintenance. Here are some tips for making your system last for the long haul.
Get professional checks twice a year.
We go to the doctor once a year. We go to the dentist twice a year. Our cars get a tuned up every year. They get oil changes every three months and tire rotations every other oil change. Pretty much everything needs a good professional look over every now and again, on a regular basis. Your heating and cooling system is no different. You should have a qualified professional come out during the low usage months which is fall and spring. They can take a look at anything that went wrong during the high usage months; summer and winter. They should be able to give you a good idea of how much longer the entire unit is going to last so you can be prepared for a big expense in advance, once the time finally comes.
Change out the air filters.
You should be changing your air filters every three months. If you have pets, you may need to change them out monthly. Check them on the first of the month every month and see how dirty they are. Then you can determine when you’ll need to change them. Changing the air filters will help your unit to function more smoothly and cleanly. It will make for cleaner air in your home which equates out to less dust bunnies and therefore less allergies. Dirty air filters also make your system work harder so it puts a lot of wear and strain on it, making it not last nearly as long as it should have.
Clean the system and keep it clear.
It’s important to make sure that the system always stays clean. Inside you could have problems with dust and grime. Outside you could have issues with grass clipping, leaves, sticks and other debris. Clean it off as often as you can. If you keep your unit inside, make sure that the closet where it is, is strictly for the unit. Do not use it has a broom closet, cleaning closet, storage closet or anything else. The room should be specifically for the unit and everything else should be kept out.
Don’t mess with the thermostat.
By changing and adjusting the thermostat throughout the day every day, you are restarting the unit from square one and it never regulates. This can put an incredible amount of strain on the unit which will make it wear out faster. If you want your home to be different temperatures, throughout the day; for example, warmer in the day and cooler in the evening when you are in bed, then buy a thermostat you can pre set. This way, the system will be prepared to make the switch.
Attend to even the smallest problems.
Don’t procrastinate. That’s it really. When you come across a problem, fix it right away or you’ll end up paying a lot more money and spending a lot more time on a bigger repair than if you had just seen to it right away.
If you can follow the above tips, you should have a unit that will give you many years or comfortable temperatures in your home. It needs to be taken care of just like your car or any other mechanical or electronic devices or even yourself.
