Keeping your heating, ventilation and air conditioning unit running at peak performance can help ensure that your home stays comfortable and your energy bills remain low. While there might be times you will need to call an HVAC repair company, there are also several ways you can self-check your unit that are simple to perform. You can make these checks every so often and may even be able to fix minor issues yourself.
Checking your outdoor unit every few months can help it run efficiently and keep it from malfunctioning. This can be especially important during the spring and summer, when weeds, shrubs and trees can encroach on the unit and interfere with how it works. Trim back trees and plants and keep the area surrounding the outdoor unit clear or enclose it to provide the fan with greater protection.
Bad weather, such as high winds and thunderstorms, can cause debris to blow into your HVAC unit’s coils. When this happens, the coils might not work as efficiently. After a storm, you should spray the coils clean with water or coil cleanser. Leaves, large seed pods and twigs can all clog your coils, you it is important that you check them often.
Replacing your system’s air filters is a simple task that you should perform once in the spring and then again in the fall. Dirty air filters cause your system to work harder, which can contribute to more wear and tear. Dirty filters can also cause dust and other allergens to enter your home’s air, which might contribute to breathing problems for those who suffer from respiratory conditions.
Performing preventative maintenance on your HVAC system can help you avoid costly problems later. While more serious issues may require that you call in a repairman, doing what you can to keep your system running at peak performance can help you reduce repair costs and keep your home’s temperature comfortable.