How To Keep Your HVAC System Running Smoothly

Your home’s heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system are crucial in cooling your home during the summer and warming up your home’s interior during the cold season. And considering the role it plays in maintaining a comfortable temperature in your home, it’s only logical to ensure it keeps running smoothly.

An efficient and well-maintained unit can be beneficial in many ways. Aside from consistent heating and cooling, it also produces better air quality without increasing your home’s utility bills. It can also be cost-efficient since you can avoid frequent unit repairs or replacements.

With that said, how do you keep your home’s HVAC system running efficiently? This article shares some insights to help you ensure your home’s unit continues to run smoothly in years to come.

Carry Out Preventive Maintenance

It’s not advisable to wait until your HVAC system breaks down or malfunctions to have it inspected by a professional. Instead, taking the proactive approach to have it routinely checked and maintained can go a long way in ensuring it remains efficient.

According to experts, HVAC maintenance is best done twice yearly, during spring and fall, when temperatures rise and fall, respectively. However, maintaining your HVAC system isn’t a do-it-yourself (DIY) project and should be left to qualified professionals like HVAC contractor Arlington or one in your locality.

Generally, routine HVAC maintenance includes the following services:

Inspect the drip pan and drain lines
Lubricate the belts and replace those that have worn out
Inspect and grease blades and fan motor
Replace or clean the air filters
Check refrigerant pressure
Lubricate all moving parts
Clear and clean the duct system
Test and calibrate thermostat

With regular maintenance, you can spot issues in your HVAC system right away. This can allow you to take the necessary measures to manage the problem before it causes you inconvenience or result in costly unit repair or replacement.

Regularly Change Air Filters

Changing the air filters of your HVAC unit is one of the easiest and cheapest ways to ensure it runs smoothly. Air filters tend to become dirty and clogged over time. And if left unchecked, these dirty filters could restrict airflow. Aside from reduced efficiency, it may also add further stress to the unit and cause it to overheat or break down. Clogged filters can also result in poor indoor air quality as they release dirt and dust through your air conditioner.

Knowing this, it’s best to schedule regular changing of the air filters every 90 days. This way, you improve your home’s air quality and save money by avoiding unnecessary repairs.

Clean The Area Around Your Condenser Unit

Trees and vegetation add life to your lawn, creating a pleasing curb appeal. However, if your garden is not maintained properly, it can affect the performance of your HVAC system, particularly its outdoor unit.

Untrimmed hedges or bushes and debris like leaves, twigs, branches, dirt, and pollen can block the condenser unit and interrupt or restrict the airflow inside your home. This, in turn, could lead to overheating of your HVAC system, causing it to break down.

To avoid such an issue, you must make it a routine to clear the area around the outdoor unit. Some manufacturers recommend a minimum clearance of two to three feet around the condenser unit’s sides. Some of the things you can do to keep your condenser unit free from debris include the following:

Trim grass or bush surrounding your condenser unit to prevent the clippings from entering the fans or vents.
Trim the nearby bushes, trees, and other vegetation close to the HVAC unit to prevent airflow obstruction.
Brush off surface dirt and lint from fins and louvers.

These are basic steps to help you ensure your condenser unit remains in good condition. But in cases wherein there’s a significant buildup of dirt inside the unit, a DIY approach may not be recommended. Instead, call your local service provider and have your condenser unit professionally cleaned.

Get A Programmable Thermostat

Your HVAC system must always be set at the correct temperatures to help your unit run efficiently and avoid putting too much strain on it. But this may not always be possible when you’re away from your air conditioner, let’s say when you’re not at home. Luckily, this is where a programmable thermostat comes in handy.

This technology allows you to adjust your home’s cooling and heating temperatures automatically and based on a pre-set schedule. You can schedule your AC to run and maintain a certain temperature during the day and then lets you adjust it in the evening. Some smart thermostats also enable you to remotely modify temperature settings in your home. You can do this with your smartphone or any other smart device.

Using a programmable thermostat, you get to control your home temperatures smoothly. At the same time, you also lower your expenditure on energy bills and reduce the stress and pressure on your HVAC unit.

Insulate Your Home And Check For Air Leaks

While this tip is not directly associated with caring for your AC unit, air leaks and inadequate home insulation can affect the overall performance of your HVAC system. Air leaks refer to conditioned air escaping your home’s interiors and outside air seeping inside through an opening. Meanwhile, insulation is a must in homes to keep the interiors warm during the winter and cool in the summer.

With air leaks and poor insulation, your home’s HVAC system may have to work as much to maintain a comfortable temperature inside your home. This can put extra stress on your unit and make it less efficient.

Wrapping It Up

Your home’s HVAC system plays a critical role in ensuring that you and your family are comfortable indoors. However, it can also experience wear and tear over time, especially if not cared for. Hence, to prolong your unit’s life and ensure it continues running smoothly, knowing how to maintain it properly is essential. Keeping in mind the tips outlined in this post can be a good start.