house with clean air illusration
Most new homes come with HVAC systems already installed. They provide the ultimate in personal comfort for you and your family. When it gets too cold outside the heat automatically comes on to the set temperature. When it gets warm during the summer months it kicks on to provide a steady stream of cool air throughout the home. Because comfort level is important, keeping it functioning properly is of the utmost importance.
Things Best Left for a Professional
Regular maintenance of your HVAC system can prevent a major breakdown or a complete system failure. In the spring and fall have a licensed professional check your system in its entirety. There are several reasons this is important. First, if you have a warranty and you perform the maintenance yourself, the warranty is gone. Secondly, when you hire a licensed contractor they have insurance so that if something should go wrong after they make the repair, you will not have to pay any of the costs. Having it serviced involves things such as the wiring and electrical components and unless you know what connects to what and how the entire system works performing the task on your own can prove quite challenging. If you sense something is off, for instance, you hear noises that weren’t present before or your gas and electric bills are much more than normal, a heating or air conditioning repair may be necessary.
Preventative Maintenance for the Homeowner
There are many things you, as the homeowner, can do to prolong the life of your HVAC system. Outside, check to make sure there are no bushes or newly growing trees in the general area of the unit, as they might cause problems in the future. Next clear a perimeter around it removing any debris such as leaves, cut grass and sticks. Inside the home make sure that you monitor the filters to ensure that they aren’t clogged and upgrade to efficient pleated types to collect and remove more contaminants from the air. It’s also beneficial to leave the registers open even if a room in your home is not in use to reduce stress on the system. Additionally, to prevent mold and mildew which can cause a clog, pour diluted bleach directly into the condensate drain once a year. If you suddenly experience a warmer or colder indoor environment and you haven’t changed the thermostat. If it’s an older model you can try replacing the filter first to see if it provides a relatively quick fix. If that works you didn’t waste your time or money by upgrading to a more efficient thermostat.
Getting the Most Out of Your System
Getting annual servicing and doing monthly and yearly maintenance will preserve the unit helping to prevent a minor repair from turning into a major one or worse yet, a possible full replacement of the unit. Keeping the vents clear and the filters changed provides many benefits. It lets you enjoy a comfortable indoor environment that’s healthy for every member of the family, helps to keep your heating and cooling bills in check and prevents damage to the home’s structure like the walls, flooring, and windows.
Your home is a place where you go at the end of each day to seek solace and enjoy. Having your HVAC system in tip-top condition will provide you with a comfortable environment that’s healthy.