HVAC Maintenance: TLC for your System
HVAC Maintenance: Tender Loving Care for Your Air Conditioner
We tend to properly care for belongings that we need and appreciate. For instance, we make sure our cars are fueled, oil changed and tires properly inflated. Without proper HVAC Maintenance, the chances increase of being stranded on the roadside, paying for costly repairs, and the inconvenience of walking or Ubering while repairs are completed.
The HVAC system in your home requires the same type of care for the very same reasons. Here are some steps you can take to avoid unpleasant temperatures, costly repairs, and the inconvenience of waiting for repairs.
HVAC Maintenance Tip 1: Replace Your Filters
First, remember to change your air filter every three months. The warm temps of springtime promote pollen, mold, and mildew growth and it doesn’t really end until late Fall. Outside air introduces allergens into your indoor space every time the door or window is opened.
Dust, dander, and other household particles are trapped in the air filter and within three months the filter is visibly filled. Replacing the air filter will allow you and your air conditioner to breathe easier.
HVAC Maintenance Tip 2: Inspect Your Condenser
Second, inspect your outside condenser unit. Inside the unit is a fan that pulls air across coils to cool them. Grass clippings, leaves, and foliage can be pulled into the spaces designed for air movement. Clean obvious debris and use a hose to wash off accumulated dirt from the condenser fins.
Next, look inside the condenser unit for items children, pets, or pests might have deposited, especially items that will interfere with the fan rotation. You might find something you thought was lost forever.
HVAC Maintenance Tip 3: Thermostat Inspection
Third, inspect the thermostat. If it still has a dial face instead of a digital readout, it is time to replace it. Programmable and smart thermostats are a small investment with very short payback—months, not years. Both allow you to change the temperature to meet with your family’s schedule.
Raising the temperature by 5 or 10 degrees while no one is home with a programmable thermostat, and lowering the temperature 30 minutes before everyone arrives will reduce your energy bill. A smart thermostat gives the added luxury of making changes on the fly with a phone app.
One mistake people commonly make is to turn the AC off while no one is home. Why cool the house if no one is home? When everyone does arrive at home, the AC is suddenly cranked low to adjust the temperature quickly to a comfortable level.
However, the sudden demand stresses your system, it frustrates the family as they wait for cool air and the stress adds to the energy bill instead of saving money. This technology is easily implemented and benefits your system, your family, and your energy bill.
HVAC Maintenance Tip 4: Check for Air Leaks
Fourth, check for obvious air leaks—windows or doors that don’t seat properly, or seals that are broken. Fixing these problems will benefit security, storm damage and boost your HVAC system efficiency.
Every dollar you spend towards preventative maintenance will multiply in savings in time, money, and comfort. These are easy steps that will help keep your AC system running smoother and longer.
Call Doctor Cool & Professor Heat today at 281-338-8751 or email Doctor Cool. The longer you ignore or put off making the call, the longer it will be before you improve your indoor air quality.
