Maintaining your HVAC system is essential for keeping your home comfortable and energy efficient. Regular maintenance can help you avoid costly repairs and ensure that your system runs smoothly for years to come. But what kind of maintenance should you be doing? In this article, we'll discuss the basics of HVAC maintenance and how to keep your system running at its best. The first step in maintaining your HVAC system is to perform a visual inspection.
Look for any clutter around the indoor climate unit and make sure the outdoor unit is clean and uncluttered. You should also replace the batteries in your thermostat. The purpose of regular air conditioning maintenance is to keep your system running at its best for as long as possible. Even with regular maintenance, however, components will eventually need to be replaced. It's important to have a professional inspect and maintain your air conditioning system twice a year to ensure it's working effectively and efficiently. Not only will regular maintenance help you stay cool and comfortable in your home, but it can also lower your energy costs.
The most important maintenance task is to replace or clean your air filters on a routine basis. Dirty, clogged filters reduce air flow and significantly reduce system efficiency. When air flow is obstructed, dirt can bypass the filter and deposit directly on the evaporator coil, which impairs its heat absorption capacity. Replacing a dirty, clogged filter with a clean one can reduce air conditioner energy consumption by 5-15%. Air filters should be checked at least once a month.
If your filter is disposable, you should dispose of it once it gets dirty. Some air filters last a few months, depending on the type and manufacturer – consult the information document or manual for more information. Regular maintenance can save you money in the long run, especially when it comes to air conditioning systems since they have much longer operating times than other construction systems. While you can perform most standard HVAC system maintenance tasks on your own, some problems may not be obvious to you. You may also want to consider an annual contract with an HVAC system maintenance company. Preventive HVAC maintenance involves providing proper care at regular intervals to minimize the likelihood that your system will suffer major problems in the long term.
Clogged filters, dirty coils, and other issues can cause problems, so it's important to keep up with maintenance tasks year after year. Unless you have a lot of experience servicing or repairing heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems, it's best not to try to fix them on your own.
