Essential HVAC Maintenance Tips for Homeowners This Winter

HVAC Maintenance Tips to Avoid Expensive Repairs

Yep! Evening temperatures in the area are dipping pretty well, enough to need heat overnight. That means it is time for homeowners to add do-it-yourself HVAC maintenance tasks to the annual preventative maintenance by an HVAC Maintenance professional. What are the DIY tasks homeowners can complete?

Replace the Air Filter

The air conditioner/furnace works hard to move air throughout the space of the house; blower motors circulate the air from the entire house very quickly. An air filter has been placed strategically to intercept all the air during cooling and heating cycles. Here are some things homeowners should know about air filters.

• • – The wintertime airborne contaminants are a little different than spring or summer contaminants. Most pollen will be gone by late fall, but some mold spores may be present. The contaminants collected on the filter during the winter are dust, dander, and most bacteria and viruses.
  • – Filters are rated to assist consumers with their purchases. Look for a MERV rating on your next purchase. The rating is based on the percentage of airborne particles removed, the higher the number the greater the percentage of particles removed.
  • – If the filter is not changed regularly, the filter becomes clogged with the collected dust. Eventually, the dust will restrict airflow and cause the system to perform poorly. This puts strain on multiple components of the air conditioner or furnace.

Changing the air filter every three months will improve indoor air quality and permit the system to function more efficiently.

Check the Thermostat Settings

Old analog thermostats used gravity and mercury to open/close an electric circuit, turning the HVAC system ON or OFF. Modern thermostats are minicomputers, with several options; some versions have Smart technology, linked to a cell phone app, with tremendous capabilities. Here are some things homeowners should know about thermostats.

• – Thermostats do not run on normal household current but are battery-powered. Just like other battery-powered devices in the home (smoke or CO detectors), the batteries need to be changed annually to ensure they work as designed.
• – The settings on thermostats should include OFF, COOL, and HEAT, but some will also have EmgHEAT or AuxHEAT settings. The emergency or auxiliary heat setting is for heat pump furnaces. The normal HEAT setting is used for the heat pump. This is the air conditioning components working in reverse—drawing heat from outdoors and bringing it inside. The emergency/auxiliary heat calls for (usually) electric heat when the outside temperature drops below 35 degrees, when the heat pump struggles to pull enough heat from the outside air.
• – Programmable or Smart thermostats can receive input matching the family’s schedule with programmed temperature setting changes overnight or during the day. This feature can save energy and money with a sustained reduction in the call for heat (or cold). Smart thermostats have a phone app that notifies homeowners of HVAC problems, energy usage, and even allows homeowners to change the temperature setting on the fly.

Inspect and Clean Vents/Ducts

Air is distributed evenly using a network of supply and return air ducts. These openings into the home are called vents. For ducts and vents to function properly, they must be clean and uncovered. So, here are some things homeowners need to work efficiently, they need to be clean and uncovered. Here are some things homeowners should know about vents and ducts.

• – It is not uncommon for daily activities to cover a vent: a drape, rugs, furniture, or clothing can block the system’s airflow. Observe the vents regularly, moving anything that might restrict air from moving into or out of the vents.
• – Excess dust around the vent can indicate a dirty air filter or problems with the HVAC system.
• – Dust will also accumulate inside the ducts. It is recommended that ductwork be cleaned every 3 to 5 years.

Clean ducts and uncovered vents impact indoor air quality and HVAC performance.

Don’t Forget Professional HVAC Maintenance

There are plenty of HVAC maintenance tasks that homeowners are not trained for and do not have the equipment to complete, such as:

• – Check for gas leaks
• – Inspect the heat exchanger for corrosion and leaks
• – Test the refrigerant level
• – Test electronic controls, switches, and sensors for wear

HVAC maintenance should be left to professionals because they have the expertise to safely inspect and service complex systems, such as checking for gas leaks and testing refrigerant levels. They can identify potential issues, like corrosion or malfunctioning components before they lead to costly repairs. Regular professional HVAC maintenance ensures optimal system performance, and energy efficiency, and helps extend the lifespan of the HVAC unit.

When you need HVAC maintenance, come to the name the Texas Gulf Coast trusts, Doctor Cool & Professor Heat. As an award-winning, BBB-accredited HVAC Maintenance and HVAC installation contractor serving the League City and surrounding area, we pride ourselves in providing exceptional service to our customers. Call Doctor Cool & Professor Heat today at 281-338-8751 or email Doctor Cool.