The Importance of Preventative Maintenance of the HVAC system

HVAC maintenance…?

Your most probable answer would be - It’s working just fine. It does not require a tune-up.

However, preventative maintenance of the HVAC system is more important and worthwhile than you think. Professional experts inspect the wiring and mechanisms of the HVAC system, which is intimidating for a homeowner to do. Preventative maintenance also ensures trouble free operation and peak performance across the year. What’s more, timely maintenance; ideally twice a year saves the HVAC system from failure in the peak season and the energy bills from going out of control.

Preventative Maintenance of the HVAC system

Therefore, HVAC maintenance by expert hands is a must to prolong the system’s life and efficiency. Ideally, this should be done twice a year at the end of the summer and winter seasons. However, to ensure good health for your HVAC system, there are certain things homeowners need to take care of between the professional tune-ups.

Here’s a list of the maintenance tasks to be done by the homeowner.

• With time and use, the filters get clogged and obstruct the smooth flow of air. Some HVAC systems have a light which indicates this. For others, it is important to keep an eye on the filters and change them when dirty and clogged.
• Do not neglect the outdoor unit. Keep debris away from the outdoor unit. It is important to keep at least two feet of clearance around the outdoor unit.
• Ensure that the lawn mower does not throw the particles on the unit.
• Inspecting the insulation on refrigerant lines running into the house is essential. It is important to get them replaced when damaged.
• Check the condensate drain regularly. Keep it clean to avoid buildup of mold and algae, which eventually causes them to clog.
• Closing more than twenty percent of the registers in the house burdens the HVAC system, thus, reducing the system’s lifespan.
• It is important to replace the battery in the carbon monoxide detector at home. Any leakage in the HVAC system will therefore, will not go undetected.

The Professional Touch

These DIY maintenance tips often tempt homeowners to take care of the complete tune-up of the HVAC system. However, this is not possible.

Professional expertise is required for the following.

• Checking if the thermostat is calibrated appropriately for the season.
• Tightening electrical connections to avoid hazards caused due to faulty connections.
• Lubricating parts is important to control friction caused due to insufficient lubrication.
• Inspecting the condensate drain.
• Problems with the blower often result in the reduction of efficiency by a good fifteen percent. Professional check-up is therefore a must.
• Cleaning evaporating and condensing coils to control energy bills and improve efficiency.
• Poor gas connections are capable of causing fire hazards. Professionals check the connections properly.

HVAC maintenance often viewed as an unnecessary requirement and wasteful expenditure by home owners have many benefits including safety and efficiency.

So, call a professional for preventative maintenance.

The author is an HVAC repairer by profession and love to write articles on this topic. In this article, he has highlighted the things that one needs to consider when hiring professionals for heating and ac repair in Pembroke.