Keeping up with the routine maintenance of your home appliances and home systems is one of many responsibilities as a homeowner. Your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system works hard throughout the year to keep your home comfortable. Regular HVAC maintenance is necessary to keep your HVAC system working at peak performance while reducing your energy bills and improving your indoor air quality.
HVAC maintenance is preventive and ensures your system runs at optimal efficiency, improves its lifespan, and detects any potential malfunctions that can lead to costly repairs. Everything from leaks, corrosion, clogged filters, and dirty coils can cause your HVAC unit to break down.
First, the basics.
There are a few simple preventive tasks that you should do right away to avoid any malfunctions with your HVAC system. Ensure that the visible indoor and outdoor components of your HVAC unit are free of debris and obstructions. There should always be at least two feet of clear space around the unit. It’s a good idea to purchase high-efficiency air filters and keep extras on hand. You should change out air filters every 90 days. Look over the air conditioner’s refrigerant lines for any leaks.
Understanding the ins and outs of spring HVAC maintenance and the benefits it provides is key to extending the lifespan of your appliance. It’s a good idea to have an HVAC technician maintain your unit annually. The expert technicians at Atlantic Shores Heating and Cooling have years of experience repairing, installing, and maintaining cooling systems, air conditioners, and ductless systems, as well as furnaces. In addition to preventive HVAC maintenance services, the HVAC contractor also performs emergency repair services.
Clean or replace the air filters.
The best way to ensure your air conditioner runs at optimal efficiency is to replace or clean the air filters every 90 days. When the filters are dirty and clogged, airflow is reduced or blocked and dirt is carried to the evaporator coil, which interferes with its heat-absorbing capacity. Clean filters lower your cooling system’s energy consumption and subsequently your utility bills, as well as improving your indoor air quality.
There are countless pollutants and contaminants in the air that affect your allergies and indoor air quality. Ensuring your filters are clean is the best way to keep your air fresh. Tobacco products have been consumed for centuries. It’s known that cigarettes are full of addictive substances that have adverse effects on your health, such as the risk of developing lung cancer. Nicotine addiction makes it difficult for adult smokers to quit. Electronic cigarettes were designed to offer cigarette smokers a “healthier” and “cleaner” alternative to traditional nicotine products.
Sometimes Daily explains why vaping has become so popular in recent years. Vaping produces less overall waste than traditional cigarettes. E-cigs generate nicotine vapor that’s far less odorous than cigarette smoke, and you can refill empty vape cartridges with e-liquid. The use of e-cigarettes is more cost-effective than smoking cigarettes, and their sleek design makes it more discreet to puff when needed. Vape devices are typically carcinogen-free because they don’t contain tobacco. E-cig juice does have some nicotine content, but users can opt for a nicotine-free e-liquid.
Remove any dirt and debris from the coils.
As you prepare for warmer weather, it’s important to remove any dirt and debris from the evaporator and condenser coils. Dirt reduces airflow and interferes with the coils’ ability to function. If you have an outdoor unit, it will become dirty due to the elements. Minimize dirt and debris around the condenser unit and fins, and cut back any foliage growing close to your unit’s airflow space.
Check for leaks and inspect the humidifier filter.
When getting your HVAC system ready for spring, you should pass a stiff wire through the condensate drain channels to check for any clogs. Obstructions in the drain channels cause excess moisture that compromises indoor air quality and causes discoloration on the walls and floors. It’s also a good idea to check the window seals for room air conditioners. Moisture can damage the window seal and allow for drafts, causing your system to work less efficiently.
Keeping up with routine maintenance is the best way to prolong the life of your HVAC system and ensure it runs at peak performance.
