Your HVAC system is critical to the comfort of those in your home. You and your family depend on it for getting through cold winters and hot summers. This system represents a sizable financial investment, so it’s in your best interest to do what you can to make it last as long as possible. While no furnace or air conditioner is made to last forever, there are specific essential maintenance steps you can regularly take to keep it functioning at optimal efficiency and help extend its life.
Why Maintain My HVAC System?
- Save Money
We stated that proper maintenance would help your HVAC unit last longer. This means it buys you time before having to replace the unit. If you can keep it going long enough, you may not even be living at your current home anymore by the time it dies, so you’ll be able to avoid the replacement expense altogether.
According to Savannah HVAC, There is more to saving money with HVAC maintenance than putting off or avoiding buying a new system. A well-maintained system will cool and heat your home more efficiently. This will save you money every month on your energy bill.
- Better Air Quality
A home’s furnace and air conditioner are pushing air throughout a home. A system that’s not maintained may be pushing air of questionable quality throughout that home. A certain portion of any dust, dirt, and other buildups in such a system will blow out the vents into your home every time the thermostat triggers it.
- A Safe Home
The above air quality scenario can get so bad that it can reach dangerous levels. A furnace that is malfunctioning badly enough can produce carbon monoxide, which is extremely dangerous.
- Peace of Mind
You have enough things to worry about in your life. You don’t need the added worry of wondering whether anything will happen when you switch the air conditioner or heat. It may also switch on, but perhaps the air coming out is not warm or cool enough to do the job. HVAC maintenance is cheap and easy enough; that’s not worth the worry of not doing it.
HVAC Maintenance You Can Do
A home’s furnace and air conditioner are sophisticated devices, and most complex problems with them will have to be handled by an HVAC professional. That being said, there are a few maintenance steps you can do to try your best at keeping this critical part of your household in good working order.
- Change Your Air Filter Regularly
This is the simplest thing you can do to keep your furnace or air conditioning unit in good shape. It takes about a minute, and it makes a world of difference when it comes to your air handling unit’s efficiency and the air quality in your home.
- Clean Your Condensate Line
Your air conditioner’s evaporator coil removes humidity from the air and turns it into water. This water then drains out through the condensate drain line. It’s important to keep this line clean otherwise, a buildup of algae, fungus, or bacteria can clog it. There are instructional videos on how to do this if you have no idea where to start.
- Replace Your Carbon Monoxide Detector Batteries Every Year
This is not direct maintenance of your HVAC system, but it will let you know if there’s a severe issue with your system. The cost of a couple of batteries is nothing compared to the peace of mind from ensuring you handle this regularly.
- Make Sure There Are No Obstructions Around Your Condenser Unit
Central AC systems will have an evaporator coil inside and a condenser coil outside. This condenser coil will have metal panels covering it, and they will have slats in them for airflow. Especially in the summer months when vegetation growth is most prolific, you need to ensure nothing is encroaching on your condenser unit and blocking the vents. Cut back any bushes or branches that are doing this, and clean out any leaves or debris in the vents.
- Keep Your Registers and Vents Clean
You don’t want anything impeding the airflow from your air conditioner or furnace when it exits the registers and vents into your home’s various rooms. You should clean them periodically, so they’ll stay clear of any buildup that could obstruct them. Doing this will also help any asthma or allergy sufferers in your family breathe easier.
Extending the Life of Your HVAC System
There are many reasons to take the simple steps above to keep your furnace and air conditioning systems running in tip-top shape. This is an expensive system in your home. If it was installed not too long ago, it probably has a warranty that may still cover it. Beyond the above steps, it’s crucial to have a professional do an annual inspection of your system. Failure to do so could void any warranty.
Your HVAC system is critical to your family’s comfort. If you neglect its maintenance long enough, it can become a source of danger, for instance, from carbon monoxide poisoning. If you take care of it, your HVAC system should continue taking care of you and your family for many years.
