Home heating and cooling systems account for over 50% of residential energy consumption, making it essential to maintain your HVAC units to reduce your monthly utility bills. This way, you can put your savings into other household expenses. Moreover, effective maintenance will ensure your critical systems operate smoothly, last long, and improve your comfort at home. Here are some basic HVAC tips every homeowner should know.
Check your devices regularly
Performing routine maintenance checks is best to verify that your HVAC systems work normally. Sometimes it can be challenging to detect performance issues yourself. Call a professional technician to come and inspect for signs of damage and make the necessary fixes. HVAC companies usually offer service contracts that guarantee regular maintenance checks. Ignoring these could attract expensive repairs in the future. So, consider getting experts to check your refrigerant level, check for unusual noises, and clean your filters.
Clean the environment around your HVAC units
Aside from ensuring that your HVAC units are clean, tidying up their surrounding environment is vital. Getting rid of dirt around your HVAC units’ installation area is important. This habit provides good airflow and reduces overheating. Examples of things to remove are leaves, sticks, and dust. If dirt or grass builds up around your units, regularly remove these contaminants and clean your exterior coils once annually.
Avoid DIY-fixing your units
Avoid self-fixing your malfunctioning heating and cooling devices unless you have the required expertise. Modern HVACs are quite complicated as they contain numerous components. Trying to repair your damaged units by yourself could expose you to electrical risks and harmful chemicals, not to mention the likelihood of further worsening the problem. Repairing air conditioners is one task you should seek technical help by consulting an air conditioning company. HVAC companies specialize in various AC repair services, including intelligent thermostat installation. Whether experiencing a minor issue or an emergency, trained technicians can assist you with proper maintenance.
Set an optimal temperature
Although your thermostat’s temperature setting may depend on your personal needs, HVAC systems operate more efficiently when you choose the best temperature. You could find this in your user manual or ask technicians to help you determine your unit’s optimal temperature. It helps to avoid fluctuating the temperature because that stresses your system. Units that work harder than usual may lose their efficiency dramatically with time.
Seal your home from incoming drafts
Chimneys, attics, basements, doors, and windows are common draft sources, allowing air into your home. Most homeowners normally find ways to stop air infiltration during the colder seasons, but overlook summer, which can prove costly. Any air leak within your home is a recipe for inefficiency, as you can lose your heating and cooling functions. Therefore, always close your doors and windows to ensure your home is well-sealed before switching on your devices. Placing weather strips on your door helps reduce cold air leakage. It would be a great idea to upgrade your home with energy-efficient doors and windows to improve the performance of air conditioners and heating systems.
Try these simple HVAC maintenance tips to ensure your units serve you well for the long term.
September 21, 2023 at 4:33 am
Thanks for bringing up the importance of changing air filters. Changing or cleaning the air filter is a relatively simple task that most homeowners can do themselves. It typically requires no special tools or technical expertise. To do this, just check the HVAC system’s manual for guidance on how often to change the filter and the specific type of filter to use.
And regarding filter types, a filter with a MERV rating between 6 and 13 is usually fine for most homes. Filters with a higher MERV rating can make your system work harder and use more energy, so it’s best to avoid them unless your system specifically needs them.