Your home’s AC is very important. It helps you stay cool during those brutally hot summer months. During the winter months, your system will help you stay warm. Suffice to say, you’ll want to make sure that your system is working flawlessly. Typically, the average lifespan of an AC system is between 15 and 20 years. Your warranty will likely cover the AC for 10 years. Either way, you’ll want to take steps to properly maintain your AC to guarantee it lasts longer. If you fail to maintain your AC unit, there is a good chance that it is going to malfunction much sooner. Be sure to follow the advice below to protect your investment and expand the lifespan of your
HVAC unit.
Picking A Reliable HVAC Company In Your Area
First, you need to make sure that you’re working with a qualified
HVAC company. Although you can complete some maintenance steps, you need professional assistance. You need to work with a qualified professional who can maintain vital components of your
HVAC system. They’ll be able to lubricate small, moving parts. They can also check the wires to ensure they’re still in good shape. If something goes wrong, the company can help you deal with it promptly.
With this in mind, it is wise to team up with a good AC company. Research carefully to ensure that the company you pick is reliable and trustworthy.
Regular Tune-Ups
It is pertinent to do everything you can to extend the lifespan of your
AC unit. One of the best ways to protect your investment is by having your unit tuned up seasonally. All warranties require consumers to have their units tuned up each year or more often. Typically, you can sign up with your local HVAC company because they should offer maintenance agreements. It is usually a good idea to let the company maintain your unit before each major season. For instance, you should make sure that your heating equipment is working flawlessly before winter arrives. Let a professional tune-up your system in early fall.
Before summer arrives, have your system inspected again. It is best to do this in early spring. Having the unit inspected and tweaked can help extend its lifespan, reduce your electric bill, and enhance the efficiency of your
AC system. In general, a professional tune-up will offer the following benefits.
- Each component of the system will be inspected
- Everything will be cleaned
- Any moving part is going to be lubricated
- All filters will be replaced
- The professional can calibrate your thermostat
- They’ll check the return and supply temperatures
Energy Efficiency is Important
Over time, the efficiency of your equipment is going to drop significantly. Even if you take pertinent steps to protect your unit, there is a good chance that its efficiency will drop over time. It is hard to avoid this. Nevertheless, proper maintenance can extend the efficiency of your
AC unit to some degree. Therefore, it is wise to make sure that a professional inspects and maintains your system at least once or twice a year. All homeowners should get an energy audit for their homes. Doing so can help you discover how efficient your home is. Then, you’ll be able to take steps to enhance the efficiency of your home.
Industry professionals recommend getting this done at least once a year. During the audit, the professional can help find problems and ways for consumers to improve the energy efficiency of their homes.
Check Vents And Filters
Before moving forward, the homeowner needs to make sure that they’ve checked their vents and filters. Although both are small components, they’re more important than you could ever imagine. Therefore, you cannot ignore them. If you do, there is a good chance that you’re going to run into serious issues. Remember that the filter is important for trapped dirt and debris. If you have a dirty filter, your
AC unit is going to blow dirty air into your home. Plus, your vents might be dirty. If you have pets, their hair and dander will fall into the vents. Again, the debris will be blown into your home when the
AC is turned on.
You can combat this problem by checking your filter regularly. It should be replaced every 30 days or so. You may have a reusable filter. If so, clean it and put it back. You’ll also want to check the vents and clean them thoroughly. Doing this will make your system more efficient and cleaner.
Protect The Outside Unit
In general, your home has an outside unit and an inside unit. You need to make sure that both are working flawlessly. Take steps to protect your equipment from potential problems. If the exterior unit is dirty, there is a risk that it is going to blow dirty air and debris into your home. Plus, the debris might get sucked into the system and that could lead to major issues. A small branch may be sucked into the system. Then, it will damage the coils or blades. Anything can happen. Thankfully, you can take steps to prevent such problems from occurring. For instance, you should regularly clean the exterior portion of your outside equipment.
The condenser fins should be free of debris. Grab your water hose and use it to clean the unit. You’ll also want to make sure that the unit is not obstructed. It should have enough room on all sides. Finally, you need to make sure that the unit is properly placed. If it is sitting in direct sunlight, it’ll have to work harder to cool your home. You can protect the unit by installing a shade screen.
Cleaning The Duct work
The unit’s duct work is vitally important because it transports cool air into your home. If the ducts are dirty, that dirt and debris are going to be pushed into your home when the AC is turned on. Therefore, you should make sure that duct cleaning is a vital step in your maintenance protocol. You’ll also want to make sure that your professional AC technician inspects the ductwork for potential rips and tears. Schedule ductwork cleaning and inspections at least once or twice a year. The professional will carefully examine the duct system to ensure that everything is okay. They’ll check for sagging ducts, loose connections, and rips.
If any of these problems are present, they’re going to reduce the efficiency of your system. Therefore, the professional will resolve these problems.
Switch To A Smart Thermostat
Don’t forget to consider switching to a smart thermostat. Although these devices tend to be more expensive than conventional thermostats, they offer a wealth of added benefits. For instance, they can be controlled using an app on your smartphone. You can adjust the temperature of the thermostat whether you’re sitting on the couch or are leaving the office on your way home. Furthermore, smart thermostats are designed to automatically create a schedule to match the unique needs of your home. When you’re not home, the smart thermostat will increase the temperature to use less energy. Suffice to say, a smart thermostat can help you save money in the long run.
Let a professional install one in your home.
Zoning Can Help
Don’t forget that some of your rooms do not need to be heated or cooled. After all, you’re not using them. If this is the case, you should turn off the vents so the air won’t flow to those rooms. The only downside is that this is inefficient. Even if you close the vents, the air is still going to flow through the duct. Creating a zoning system for your
HVAC system prevents this from happening. The zoning system will give you greater control over your
HVAC system and its airflow.
Call a professional to ask about zoning systems today.
Pick A Trusted HVAC Company
Ultimately, you need to work with a trusted
HVAC company. Their services will be well worth it because they can help protect and maintain your
HVAC equipment. Don’t rush this decision because doing so could lead to you getting scammed. Instead, you should research your local companies carefully and pick the best one for your budget.
