Your HVAC system is a critical component in keeping your home comfortable and keeping your family safe and healthy during extreme heat or cold spells. Unfortunately, during an extremely hot or cold time is when your HVAC system may be most likely to fail due to the increased strain on the system. In order to make sure your system is operating at peak performance, even during the hottest or coldest days, it’s important to perform regular maintenance on the system. While routine maintenance can’t prevent every possible problem with your HVAC system, it will give you the best chance at keeping your system operating efficiently and prolong the overall life expectancy of your system.
Here are the most important maintenance tasks for your home’s HVAC system.
Filters
Changing your HVAC filter is one of the easiest and most important ways to maintain your HVAC system. Filters trap dust, debris, germs, and other particles in the air to help maintain the air quality of your home. A dirty filter can compromise the operating efficiency of your HVAC system and reduce the lifespan of your system.
Most filters require monthly changing, but the frequency can vary based on your individual system, and the type of filters used. More expensive filters tend to block more particles and can reduce dust circulation and allergies. Filters come in a huge array of sizes, so make sure you always use the proper size filter for your system.
Breaks
Whenever possible, it’s important to give your HVAC system a break, especially if it has been running a lot due to very hot or cold weather. If possible, shut the system down whenever the weather is mild to give the system a break.
Though not technically required for system maintenance, allowing your system to take a break from time to time will reduce the overall wear and strain on the system and help to prolong the system’s life expectancy.
Cleaning
In addition to regular filter changes, regular cleaning is another easy, yet vital way to maintain your HVAC system and ensure it continues operating at its best. You should regularly clean both interior and exterior components of the system to keep everything working well and prolong the life of your equipment, including ducts and registers.
Dust buildup can cause problems inside the HVAC unit. Dirt and debris can also build up on the condenser and force the system to work harder than necessary to keep your home at the correct temperature. In addition to the equipment itself, it’s also important to keep the area around the equipment clear in order to provide sufficient space for air to flow around the unit.
Thermostat
The thermostat is a critical component of the HVAC system and one that is easily overlooked when considering regular maintenance. If your system has a thermostat that uses batteries, be sure to check and replace the batteries regularly. A thermostat with low batteries can cause the system to run more than necessary, putting additional strain on the HVAC system.
You should also consider getting a programmable thermostat if you don’t have one already, because you can reduce wear on your system by setting it to run less often when you’re out of the house.
Regular Inspections
While regular cleaning and filter changes are excellent ways to keep your HVAC system healthy, there’s no substitute for having an expert check out the system regularly. Depending on the climate where you live, you should consider either annual or seasonal inspections on your HVAC system. An experienced technician can professionally clean your equipment and spot any small issues before they become big problems. A regular inspection may help to catch troubles that can be easily repaired before they damage the system and force a small repair into an entire system replacement.
Maintenance Clubs
Preventive maintenance is the best way to avoid costly breakdowns and repairs while providing greater energy savings, ensuring maximum system life, and making sure your home systems are performing in top condition. However, life gets busy and it is easy for important maintenance items to fall through the cracks.
To make it simpler, some HVAC companies offer maintenance clubs. For a low monthly fee, these clubs offer a variety of benefits, such as regular inspections, discounts on repairs and replacement equipment, priority booking and more. Joining a maintenance club is a great way to inexpensively and effectively keep your HVAC system in tip-top shape. Plus, regular professional inspections will ensure that any potential problems or necessary repairs are spotted as early as possible.
Taking Care of the Important Tasks
As long as you stay on top of the most important maintenance tasks, your HVAC system should be able to stay in tip-top shape. This is the best way to keep the system going and ensure your comfort year-round, even in the hottest or chillests parts of the year. Make sure you’re not falling behind on any of the big items to keep your HVAC system going strong.
