Effective Tips for Maintaining Your HVAC System

There’s a direct correlation between how well you care for your HVAC system and its overall performance. If you’re consistent about maintaining your heating and cooling appliances, they’ll run efficiently, provide you with consistent comfort, and enjoy long, healthy lifespans. If you neglect HVAC maintenance, though, it will likely result in discomfort, costly energy bills, and lots of expensive repairs. Fortunately, keeping your HVAC system in great condition is pretty simple if you approach it correctly. Here, we’ll take a look at a few straightforward tips for proper HVAC maintenance.

Schedule Preventative Maintenance Every Year

Although there are several HVAC maintenance measures you can take on your own, it’s important to bring in the professionals periodically. If you’re in the greater Carrollton, TX area, our team at Dring Air Conditioning & Heating can always provide you with comprehensive HVAC maintenance. This tune-up can focus on your heating system, air conditioner, or both simultaneously. Usually, it’s best to have your heater serviced before winter and your AC unit serviced before summer. During the maintenance appointment, one of our skilled technicians will inspect your system, clean out any accumulated contaminants, make adjustments to the equipment, replace the air filter, and run a few tests.

By scheduling this service every year, you can ensure that your HVAC system consistently operates at peak performance and efficiency. Plus, if our team finds any red flags with the unit, they can take preventative measures to save you money and hassle down the road. HVAC systems that are tuned up by professionals each year tend to have longer, healthier lifespans than those that aren’t.

Clean the Outdoor Unit Regularly

If you have a central air system in your home, one important part of it is the outdoor condenser unit. This unit, which is located right outside your home, plays an important role in heating and cooling your living space. But because of its location, your condenser unit is constantly exposed to the elements. As a result, it’s common for dirt, leaves, branches, and random debris to accumulate on and around the unit. In some cases, dirt and grime can become caked between the condenser coils, which are metal fins on the unit’s exterior. When the outdoor unit gets excessively dirty, it can start to negatively impact the efficiency and performance of your HVAC system. To avoid this, you should clean the condenser periodically throughout the year.

You should be able to clear most of the dirt, leaves, and debris using a broom or a brush. To clean the dirt out from between the metal fins, you can also use a hose with a gentle stream of water.

Replace the Air Filters Frequently

Regularly replacing your HVAC air filters is another crucial aspect of HVAC maintenance. Your heating and air conditioning units are both equipped with air filters. These filters have the important job of catching airborne contaminant particles while your HVAC system circulates air. When the filter catches pollutants like dust mites, pollen, and mold spores, it prevents them from being cycled into the appliance and into the air you breathe. To ensure your HVAC system is circulating air well, it is recommended to check your air filters every couple of months and replace them if necessary.

When your HVAC air filters become overly dirty, they stop trapping pollutants, which leads to your HVAC system getting dirty and your indoor air quality declining. Additionally, it becomes harder for your HVAC system to pull air through, which puts lots of extra strain on the appliance. This can negatively impact your comfort, monthly energy bills, and the health of your HVAC unit. As long as you closely monitor your HVAC air filters year-round, you can avoid these negative consequences. If you’re unsure whether or not it’s time to replace a filter, you can always inspect it visually. Hold the air filter up to a light; if the light can’t be seen on the other side, the filter is dirty and needs to be changed.

Clean Your Air Vents Every Month

Your air vents serve as the last stop for the air your HVAC system circulates before it reaches you and your family. When these registers are clean and unobstructed, it’s no problem for your heating and cooling appliances to push conditioned air through. However, the interior chambers of your air vents naturally build up contaminants over time. If you go a few months without cleaning your vents, they’re likely to be packed with dust, dirt, and small debris. These contaminants can eventually form a blockage, obstructing your HVAC system’s airflow. In addition to causing uneven household temperatures, that can worsen the efficiency and health of your HVAC system. Fortunately, you can prevent these issues by simply cleaning out your home’s air vents once every month or two. You’ll need to use a screwdriver to remove the vent covers, and a vacuum cleaner’s hose attachment should be perfect for the actual cleaning.

Keep an Eye on Your Energy Bills

As a homeowner, it’s always prudent to monitor your household’s energy bills throughout the year. That way, you can notice immediately if there’s an unusual spike. And during the harsher seasons, keeping an eye on your electricity bills can provide you with a lot of insight into the condition of your HVAC system. For example, if your bills shoot up significantly more than they have in previous years during the summer, there’s a very strong possibility that something isn’t right with your air conditioner. It could be that the appliance simply needs a tune-up, but there could also be a mechanical problem that needs to be repaired. Catching those kinds of issues early can go a long way toward keeping your HVAC system healthy and functioning properly in the long run. As soon as you suspect that your HVAC system is struggling with efficiency, contact us at Dring Air Conditioning & Heating to schedule a comprehensive HVAC inspection.

Schedule Regular Duct Cleanings

The air ducts in your home are the pathways for your heating and cooling systems to circulate air and keep your dwelling comfortable. But many different contaminants can accumulate inside your ductwork over time, which can make it much harder for the appliances to cycle hot and cool air efficiently and effectively, and potentially lead to contaminants such as dust mites, mold spores, and other pollutants being circulated throughout your home. For these reasons, it’s imperative to have your air ducts professionally cleaned every two or three years. This will not only improve your HVAC system’s performance, but it will also help it stay healthy in the long run.

Since 1953, we at Dring Air Conditioning & Heating have been a staple in the Carrollton area. We’re a family-owned and operated business, and our family has been in the industry for several generations. Whether you need heating, cooling, indoor air quality, or ductwork services, our expert technicians will be there to assist you. If you’d like to learn more or schedule an appointment, give us a call at Dring Air Conditioning & Heating today.

Dennis Chaisson

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