Preventative maintenance of your HVAC system is more important than ever as it ensures the heating and cooling systems installed work at their peak efficiency without requiring repairs. On-time maintenance of your home’s HVAC system also ensures it can run for longer durations without encountering a malfunction. Here are the reasons why maintaining your HVAC system is necessary.
Extended Life
Maintained HVAC system equipment lasts longer and requires comparatively fewer parts replacement. On-time maintenance can save a lot of money as you would be spending less on repairing or replacing worn-out parts. Failing to maintain the HVAC system increases the cost of repairs, decreases the unit’s efficiency, and leads to a significant increase in utility bills.
Some people have a misconception that it’s not necessary to spend money on HVAC maintenance. As mentioned earlier, this will only contribute to decreasing the lifespan of the unit.
Decreased Utility Bills
A well-maintained HVAC system works with efficiency, requiring less energy to maintain the desired indoor temperatures. This improved efficiency results in decreased utility bills. The amount of money you save on utility bills might not seem much, but it surely can make a difference, especially in the long run. Newer models of these HVAC systems are energy-efficient and perform better.
If you already have an old HVAC system, maintaining it would not make much of a difference. These units also consume a lot of energy, resulting in soaring utility bills no matter what preventative measure you take. When choosing an HVAC system for your property, remember to pick a model with a higher energy star rating. Purchasing an energy-efficient unit might cost you a lot of money, but in the long run, let you save much more in terms of decreased utility bills.
Fewer Repairs
Inspection and timely maintenance allow for identifying minor issues in the system early on and resolving these problems before they get out of hand. This routine ensures you don’t have to encounter unexpected malfunctions and costly repairs.
Safer Indoors
Unexpected weather conditions like a cold snap or a blizzard can freeze the indoors and make it unhabitable if adequate indoor temperatures are not controlled. Installing an HVAC system with a higher energy star rating is an excellent choice. A well-maintained HVAC system can easily maintain indoor home temperatures to the desired level, ensuring your family’s safety and providing a safer environment.
Improved Equipment Life
As mentioned earlier, regular maintenance of your HVAC system ensures the components used in the system work at optimum conditions, lowering the chances of malfunction and possible replacement. Maintenance saves you a lot of money as you won’t be spending any on costly repairs or replacement of faulty components.
Failing to take care of your home’s HVAC system drastically decreases the lifespan of the equipment and its efficiency. Maintenance of HVAC systems should be done at least once a year. It’s pretty simple to maintain the system. All you have to do is to call in certified professionals capable of cleaning your HVAC system as they are equipped with the right tools and the expertise to maintain the system. Furthermore, they know which components of the HVAC system should be checked to ensure improved work efficiency.
Improved Air Quality
Over time, a running HVAAC system can collect dust, debris, and other small particles in the environment, resulting in poor air quality. This collection of these contaminants and allergens increases the chances of allergic reactions and mold growth in the air ducts. Maintaining the system reduces the exposure to allergens and other harmful particles that cause respiratory problems.
The HVAC technician will start by checking the cooling capacity of the system. Over time, the refrigerant levels drop down if the pipes get damaged. If the refrigerant levels are low, they will add more to ensure better cooling capacity. Electrical components and the child are also inspected by these technicians to ensure nothing is malfunctioning or needs replacement.
It is recommended to get your home’s HVAC system serviced by certified technicians once a year. During the service, the technician will closely examine each component of the system, ensure they are operating at optimum levels, and remove any dust or debris accumulated on the surface. These technicians have a safety checklist that they go through to ensure the system is operating at its best and has no issues in its operations.
If your HVAC system encounters a problem, it is preferable to call a professional as they have the expertise to diagnose and provide the required solution. Most of the time, loose wires or issues with the air filter are the most common problems.
Here are a few safety tips you can try on your own and maintain the HVAC system for better performance.
Changing Air Filters
Make it a habit of changing the air filters for at least 3 months to allow clean air t flow from the system. Depending on the weather conditions, you might need to change the filters more often. For example, areas experiencing a lot of dust storms or homes with pets should check the quality of the air filter from time to time and replace it whenever necessary.
Keeping the Area Clean
Make sure the outdoor area surrounding the HVAC unit is clean and does not have a lot of debris lying around. Clean the place and ensure no fallen tree branches or leaves are nearby. Doing this is necessary to maintain the peak airflow of the unit. Most maintenance technicians also check the heat exchanger for any leaks as the exchanger contains toxic carbon monoxide. This deadly gas can flow through the HVAC system into the indoor environment, resulting in a health hazard. You can ask the technician to ensure there are no leaks in the heat exchanger.
Well-maintained HVAC systems are an environmentally-friendly option as they consume a lot less energy. By following a maintenance routine, you will be contributing considerably to decreasing the carbon footprint of the HVAC system. Besides maintaining the system, consider using modern home solutions like programmable thermostats and timers that can be used to further cut down on energy costs and reduce the negative impact on the environment.