Part of being a homeowner means performing some basic maintenance tasks throughout the year. However, sometimes our hectic lives cause us to forget to do very simple tasks that could save us thousands of dollars in the long run. That’s where creating a mental, or physical, home maintenance checklist comes in handy. Mentally creating an association with certain events, holidays, or a specific time of the year will help you remember exactly what you need to do and when. Many people find that associating back to school with performing their annual HVAC maintenance helps do just that.
Is an Annual Check of Your Heating And Cooling System Really Necessary?
Yes, there are many benefits to performing some basic preventive maintenance tasks on your HVAC system. No one likes to be uncomfortable, and a complete system failure is more likely if you don’t take care of your equipment. And, as you are incurring the extra expense of buying school supplies and providing everything that’s needed for your children’s extracurricular activities, the last thing you need is a complete system failure. This will not only be inconvenient and uncomfortable, but it will also be expensive and, in most cases, completely avoidable.
Preventive HVAC Maintenance Tasks You Can Do Yourself
Taking the proper care of your HVAC system isn’t really hard, but you do have to remember to do it. Here are some recommended tasks.
- Change your HVAC filters every 90 days or more if you have pets. Dirty filters will make your system work harder than it has to, and this in turn will raise your electric bill, not to mention overly irritating your family’s allergies and potentially making them sick.
- Use expanding foam particularly around your home’s pipes, the ductwork, windows and doors or anywhere else air could be getting in or out.
- Keep your AC unit’s exterior coils clean and free from debris, such as: weeds, bushes, grass, or anything else that’s blocking the coils. Additionally, it’s also a good idea to spray around your unit for ants and other insects that like to gather there as they will get into your equipment and could cause it to malfunction.
- Gently hose down your HVAC system’s exterior coils. Simply take your hose and very gently rinse the coils on your unit to remove any built-up dirt and debris.
Preventive HVAC Maintenance Tasks That Should Only Be Performed by Professionals
A professional is going to be able to better diagnose and find potential problems before they turn into major repairs. Some functions that will require you to contact a professional are:
- Checking your thermostat to make sure it’s calibrated properly to ensure your comfort throughout the year.
- Loose electrical connections are dangerous and could pose a fire hazard, not to mention shortening the life expectancy of your equipment. And this is one area that an untrained eye wouldn’t normally catch. Yet it’s one of the most important when it comes to the safety of your family.
- Other areas of importance that should be performed by a professional are: lubricating all moving parts, inspecting and cleaning the condensation drain, cleaning and adjusting the blower, checking the refrigerant levels (you have to be licensed to deal with refrigerant), inspecting the gas pressure, burner combustion, heat exchanger and more.
When you are ready for your annual HVAC checkup, please contact Snyder Heating and Air Conditioning and we will help you keep your system in good working order. We care about your comfort and will make your safety our number one concern. Contact us today!
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