Now that the heat of summer is behind us, fall is a great time to think about maintenance on the most important appliance in your home, your heating, ventilation, and cooling (HVAC) system. A properly tuned HVAC system will not only save you money by running more efficiently, but could also keep you healthier in
winter months.
The typical lifespan of an HVAC system ranges between 15-25 years depending on use and how well it’s maintained.
A few things to keep in mind to help your HVAC system are:
OUTSIDE AC CONDENSER
- Hose off your outside condenser in the spring before you turn on your AC, several times in the summer depending on use and tree debris, and again in the fall before it is shut off for the season.
- Before hosing off the condenser, be sure to shut off the power to the unit either at the exterior shutoff switch or on your home’s main electrical panel.
- Some people also like to cover their condenser, that is optional also.
FURNACE FILTERS
- Check and change a dirty filter often! This is one of the easiest and most important things to do and it is often forgotten. It also helps not to have a litter box or other debris near the furnace as they can get sucked into the furnace and cause future damage.
ANNUAL TUNE-UPS
- This is the second most important thing to keep your furnace parts clean and running efficiently.
- Tune-ups are best done in the fall or spring to avoid anything breaking during heavy use times in winter or summer.
- Tune-ups are also a good time to review with your technician to determine if changes in your HVAC system are needed to help keep it running at its optimal performance.
- This could also be a good time to review the indoor air quality of your home and if filtration products are right for your home.
THERMOSTAT
- Installing a programmable thermostat can give you energy saving performance and save you money. Most of these also have phone apps where you can check the temperature of your home when you’re away to ensure pipes don’t freeze in the winter and that pets are comfortable during the day.
It’s important to find a reliable, experienced HVAC company that you trust to service your home, and to keep up the maintenance of your HVAC system to ensure your home is comfortable and not something to worry about. Please visit our web site to read through our other HVAC 101 questions: www.whitebearheatingandcooling.com.
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