HVAC systems are like romantic partners: a little attention goes a long way. If you want to avoid drama, as in emergency HVAC repairs, taking a little time to maintain your HVAC system can help prevent issues that might otherwise arise.
1. Be attentive to the sounds, monthly costs, and general condition of your HVAC system
Awareness of what your HVAC system should be doing is one of the best ways to take care of it. This includes knowing what sounds your HVAC system typically makes when operating, how much it typically costs to run per month, and generally knowing what is normal and what isn’t. That way, if you hear abnormal noises or the bill shoots up for no good reason, you will be alerted to these abnormal occurrences and will know to call a professional to check out your unit immediately.
Some other examples of attentiveness include monitoring the way your HVAC system drains the water that it collects from the air inside your home as well as knowing what a clean air filter looks like. Checking on these conditions can help to prevent emergency HVAC repair and extend the life of your HVAC system.
2. Get your HVAC system checked and serviced bi-annually
This is advice you will find on any website or article concerning HVAC systems. Like getting an oil change and tune up to keep a car running, servicing your HVAC system regularly– at least twice a year– can keep you from needing serious HVAC service and repair or perhaps prevent an emergency HVAC system issue.
The HVAC professional will check that all systems are working and will clean inside your unit, making sure it is working as efficiently as possible and preventing a possible system failure. Evaporator coils, drain pan and drainage system, refrigerant levels…these terms might mean nothing to you, but an HVAC expert will inspect these parts and more to ensure your HVAC unit is in tip-top shape.
3. Keep it clean & treat it nicely
Cleaning the drainpipe and the fan atop the condensing unit; keeping the area around your HVAC unit free of debris; and clearing vents inside your home are great do-it-yourself strategies for ensuring an efficient and healthy HVAC system. While your unit will most likely not stay shiny and new looking, maintaining key parts can help ensure that it is able to do its job.
All this attention and cleaning you are doing for your HVAC system might tempt you to feel free to adjust the thermostat depending on your preferences, such as turning it up or down a few degrees when you leave the house. However, leaving it alone is often the better option. Remember: Every time you adjust the temperature, the HVAC system has to work a bit harder.
If you follow these three tips, your HVAC system should stay healthy and last a long time. Contact us to set up an HVAC service plan today!
