Ways to increase the lifetime of your HVAC system
If you want long-term savings and an HVAC system that will last many years, then there are things you should be doing every day or week. However, not everyone knows how to take care of their system. It is simple, if you follow the tips in this article you can get a lot more out of your HVAC system than the average person.
1. Change the filters every 3 months
If you take care of indoor air quality then there are a few things you can do to increase the life of your HVAC unit. Changing the filter is one way that will keep it doing its job for longer and not wear down prematurely. It is an easy thing that doesn’t cost very much, but it can pay off in the long run. You will need to change it every three months, and you can either use a filter that the HVAC system came with or one of your choice. The filter you use is up to you, but if you don’t replace it for 3 months then your system will not work as well and the energy efficiency can drop. This can lead to more problems in the future so it is worth replacing them every 3 months.
2. Clean the coils at least once a year
Another way to take care of your system is by cleaning the coils at least once a year. This will remove any build up that has formed in the coils thus increasing air flow smoothly. You may need someone who is certified if you are not sure how to clean them or if you found it difficult before, but having a clean set of coils can really help your system. Some people choose to clean them themselves, but you should have an HVAC company come out if you are unsure of what to do. Make sure that you brush the coils so that all build up is removed from the surface and then vacuum it.
This will allow for their performance to be increased drastically when your unit is running. You can then place the vacuum back in your closet so you have it when you need to use it again. Cleaning the coils will also help to keep your HVAC system running smoothly. If you don’t clean the coils then they can cause an airflow blockage and make the unit work harder than it needs to for them to be cleaned. Then if you don’t change the filter on time this can lead to a drop in performance or problems.
3. Get your ducts cleaned professionally, if needed
Your ducts are part of the air conditioning system and they need to be cleaned, too. This is especially true if you have been having problems with your HVAC system or there has been a lot of dust in that area due to remodeling or an addition being added onto your home. You may not know how important it is to get the ducts cleaned until you have had it done.
There are many companies out there that can help with this process, and if you don’t know who to call then you should ask your friends or neighbors for a recommendation.
Ask for references so that way they will give you someone reputable in the business. Call a couple of HVAC companies before deciding on one so that you can get the best possible price and quality of work done. You don’t want to have problems with your ducts because they aren’t clean, so make sure that you take care of this problem if there is dust build up causing issues with your system.
4. Check for leaks and seal up any holes in the system with silicone or caulk to prevent air from escaping
If you have any holes or leaks in your system, then make sure that you seal them up before they cause bigger issues. The last thing you want is for air to escape through a leak and never replenish the air supply. You may not know if there are any leaks without having someone check it out. You will know right away if there are problems if you can hear a loud noise coming from your HVAC system. This is not normal, and you should get it checked out. You don’t want to have any hole in your air ducts or anywhere else that air can escape through because that will mean higher bills for energy usage. Leaks tend to be easy enough to fix, and you can do it yourself if you feel confident in your abilities to do so.
Make sure that you are sealing it up with the right materials though because caulk would not be good for this job, as they wouldn’t be able to hold up for long. You should use silicone for this job because it would be able to withstand a lot of wear and tear before breaking down. If you don’t have any spare caulk lying around then you can always buy some more at the store and fix the problem.
Make sure that you get as much air leaks as possible sealed up so that each room gets an equal amount of air. There may be some rooms with higher pressure than others, depending on where the unit is located in your home or office.
5. Turn off your HVAC system if you won’t be home for several days
If you aren’t going to be home for a few days make sure that you turn off the air conditioning unit so that it doesn’t run unnecessarily. This will save on your energy bill and help to protect the outside condenser unit from damage due to too much dust or debris. Leaving the air conditioning system on when you aren’t home will make it work harder than it needs to, and that means a higher energy bill at the end of the month. Keeping your HVAC system off when you won’t need it for a while is one of the simplest things that anyone can do to help protect their unit and lower their energy bill.
Turning your air conditioning off when you won’t need it will also make the system last for a lot longer before having to be replaced. Leaving the system on all day and night, even if you are not home, can cause it to wear out much faster than normal due to damage that could occur from the increased use of energy. If you have the luxury of turning it off when you aren’t home then don’t hesitate to do so. You can save a lot of money on your energy bill and lengthen the lifespan of your HVAC system by doing this simple task every once in a while.
6. Get your AC serviced annually by a professional company to ensure that everything is running smoothly and they can make any repairs that are needed at this time
If you want your HVAC system to last for many more years then it is important to have it serviced every year by a professional company. They will make sure that everything is running like it should, and they can catch any problems before they become bigger issues. The outside unit could get dirty easily if the air filters are not changed out regularly, and this can cause your system to be damaged by the outdoor elements.
If you want your AC to last for a long time then you need to protect it from outside damage which is why regular maintenance is so important. You may think that changing out the filters on a monthly basis will do the job but if they aren’t done properly then they will not protect the unit from damage. You may also want to consider getting a UV light set up to protect your unit from mold and other damaging things that can come in through small cracks or holes. This is only necessary if you live somewhere that gets hit by severe weather often, or if there are high winds due to being on the coast or having trees directly around your unit.
The service technicians will be able to tell you if this would be beneficial to have as well, so it is something that you should probably have a conversation with them about when you are getting your HVAC system serviced. Even if they don’t recommend that you get one of these set ups installed then you should still look into it yourself because it is something that can save you a lot of money in the long run.
If you want your HVAC system to last for many more years then an annual service appointment is going to be a must. Make sure that you get in touch with a professional company as soon as possible before they all fill up for the year and there is no space left. If you don’t have any room on your calendar at this time then as soon as one does come up make sure to get it scheduled so that you can protect your system and lower your energy bill every month of the year.
***
Air conditioning is a big deal. If you want to make sure your air conditioner lasts, it’s important that you take care of the unit and keep up with regular maintenance. You might think this sounds like an easy task, but there are plenty of things that can go wrong if you don’t know what you’re doing or aren’t careful around electricity! That’s why we’ve created this blog post about taking care of your AC unit so our customers always have all the information they need for long-lasting comfort in their homes. We hope these tips will help save people time and money on costly repairs by preventing problems before they happen.