Preventative HVAC maintenance is important for many reasons, including saving money on electric bills, having healthy air to breathe, maintaining your warranty, and preventing costly emergency repairs.
The good news is, by following a few tips, you can maintain your HVAC system and extend the life of your unit.
Here are 5 HVAC maintenance tips to keep your central air conditioner working as efficiently as possible.
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1. Keep Your HVAC Unit Clean
An important part of regular central air maintenance is keeping the unit clean. The cleanliness of the unit determines how long and how well the system will run.
While there are several steps for properly cleaning your HVAC system, the main tasks you want to focus on are:
- Vacuuming and straightening the fins
- Cleaning the condenser, fins, fan, registers, furnace filter, drain tube, and drain port
- Lubricating the motor
Always make sure the unit is off and unplugged before getting started with cleaning.
2. Change Your Filter Every 3 Months
One of the most helpful HVAC maintenance tips is to change your filter every 3 months and check your filter monthly.
A clean filter prevents:
- Health problems from poor indoor air quality
- System failure due to burning out or overheating
- Repair costs
- Increased electricity costs from the unit working too hard
By checking and changing out your filters regularly, you can keep your system working well and filter healthy air throughout your home.
3. Clear Surrounding Debris
One of the most important HVAC tips is to clear all of the debris around your outdoor unit. Debris, like shrubs, bushes, twigs, grass clippings, and leaves will gather in the unit, reduce airflow and cause the system to work harder.
Once you have turned off the outdoor unit you can clean it by hosing off the debris on the outside of the unit and cutting back any foilage growing near it.
4. Open All the Registers
One item on the HVAC preventative maintenance checklist is to open all of the registers in your home.
While there may be rooms that are not often used, like a guest room, closing the register all the way will make your system work harder, overall.
Many of the problems that cause early burnout or system failure start with an overworked system. Not only will an overworked system burn out quickly, but it will also cause a sudden spike in your electric bill.
Keep your registers open and make sure nothing is blocking them, such as a large area rug or a piece of furniture.
5. Schedule Regular Maintenance
HVAC servicing is essential for maintaining a long-lasting system. While it’s important to clean your HVAC regularly, a professional HVAC company will clean, inspect, and tune up your unit to ensure it is working as efficiently as possible.
A professional will also perform air duct cleaning to make sure your air ducts are clean, free from mold, and are not housing any pesky rodents.
Plan to have your HVAC serviced 1-2 times per year.
Preventative HVAC Maintenance: The Bottom Line
By implementing these HVAC maintenance tips, you will relieve the stress on your unit and keep it working for as long as possible.
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