How To Properly Maintain Your HVAC System To Ensure Peak Performance

When you take good care of your HVAC system, it’ll perform well. Plenty of furnaces and air conditioners have lasted longer than their expected lifespan. But sometimes even ones that last a long time still costs plenty of money to maintain.

Even if you take very good care of them, all HVAC systems are bound to lose efficiency after a while. Unfortunately, this means you’ll gradually pay more for energy. In addition, parts wear down, and you’ll end up spending more money on repairs for your HVAC system. This is just what happens as equipment gets older.

Also, even when HVAC systems last a long time, technology gets better, which means they become obsolete. When it’s time to replace them, there are ones that are better than what you currently have, which could be a huge difference.

The following are seven ways to extend the life of your HVAC system:

1. Get your HVAC system serviced two or more times every year

It doesn’t take much to maintain an HVAC system, but this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do it on a routine basis. Both the furnace and air conditioner should be maintained annually. This means you must inspect and clean it. Try doing this during the spring or at the end of summer or early fall. Doing so ensures that it will be ready at the beginning of each major weather change. If there is something wrong at the time of inspection, it can be fixed so that you aren’t inconvenienced.

With a tune-up, the technician has to lubricate parts, clean the condenser, get rid of buildup in the condensate drain tube, check refrigerant levels, replace the filters, inspect for cracks in the heat exchanger and anything else that can extend the life of your HVAC system.

2. Routinely change the filters

During your regular HVAC checkups, the technician should check the filters. The average system has a 30-day fibreglass filter that is disposable or a pleated filter that lasts for three months. It doesn’t matter which one your home has; either should be checked on a routine basis. If a filter has a lot of buildups, it must be replaced. Even if it is discovered during an unscheduled check, a dirty filter has to be replaced immediately.

When the filter is dirty, your air conditioner has to work harder to cool down your home. This puts more work on the fan and damages the entire system in the long run.

3. Utilize the auto fan setting as much as possible

The average HVAC system is equipped with two fan settings. The first is “auto,” and it tells the fan only to run when the system heats or cools your home. When the setting is switched to the on position, this means the fan does not stop running. For some systems, they are more efficient because they have dual settings that produce a balance between cooling and heating cycles.

The setting can be beneficial. It gets rid of more dust, which is ideal for anyone with respiratory issues or allergies. This provides a better quality of air. However, this setting makes an HVAC system work harder, which lessens its lifespan. It also makes the filters clog up faster, and if you fail to change them, this makes the HVAC system work too hard.

4. Inspect the condenser

The condenser is usually placed on the exterior of your home, and it is designed to hold up to outside elements; however, bad storms can damage it. It is wise to inspect it often, especially after bad weather passes through the area. Also, make sure it is clear of debris such as leaves. Remember, it needs to breathe too, and this is hard to do if it is covered in leaves.

5. Get better insulation

An HVAC system lasts longer when it doesn’t run as much. This is possible to do if you can keep more recycled air in your home. The best way to do this is to install good insulation. Make sure there is proper insulation in the attic and basement. Depending on where you live, you can find out what type of insulation to use. Follow guidelines from the EPA and determine the type of insulation that is needed for your area.

If you don’t have the right type of insulation in your home, make a change. Make sure your basement and wall cavities are properly insulated. Get a professional to inspect your home for areas that don’t have the right kind of insulation.

6. Install a smart thermostat

You can easily program a smart thermostat and control it from devices such as your phone or tablet. Some of these models know how to schedule maintenance appointments for you. They learn your habits and do certain things without your telling them to. Increased energy efficiency is easier to obtain with the help of smart devices.

7. Do everything and anything that will reduce the workload of your system

There are numerous things you can do to make things easier for your HVAC system. Use ceiling fans as much as you can. Remain cool but give your system a rest from time to time. Purchase reflective shades and reduce the amount of heat that gets into your home. Use blankets and space heaters more often during the wintertime. This makes it possible to reduce the thermostat more often.