Maintaining Your HVAC system
The HVAC system, or “Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning,” is necessary for maintaining a home’s temperature and air quality. Upkeep of the HVAC system will prevent future problems and is less expensive than replacing the unit. Here are some HVAC maintenance tips to keep your system performing well.
HVAC Components
To understand how to give your HVAC system proper care, you must first understand the components and how they work together.
- Furnace: The furnace is responsible for heating the air in the system. This is done by using a heat exchanger that raises the temperature of the air to the desired point. Most furnaces will be found in the attic or basement of the home.
- Air Conditioner: The air conditioner, or AC, is responsible for cooling air with the use of coolant liquid and removing hot air from inside the home. The AC unit is typically found outside the home.
- Ducts: The ducts in the HVAC system serve as the network for sending air from the AC or the furnace to every part of the house through the use of an air pump.
- Thermostat: The thermostat works as the central control for your HVAC system. This is the control panel that allows a user to set the interior temperature of the home.
Schedule HVAC Maintenance
There are some easy maintenance tasks you can do to help prevent major repairs in the future. Some things can be done right away, while other tasks should be done on a monthly or annual basis.
- Right Now: Make sure that no objects are covering any HVAC openings, such as vents. The AC and the furnace need to be able to properly circulate air. Additionally, change the air filter to keep things running as efficiently as possible.
- Monthly: A very important part of your HVAC system is the refrigerant lines that transfer heating or cooling fluids to the evaporator coil. If there is any damage to these lines, the unit will have a hard time adjusting to the desired temperature. To avoid wasting energy and increasing the energy bill, make sure that these lines are not leaking and are still attached.
- Yearly: Yearly HVAC maintenance checks are important to keep the system functioning. It’s good to hire a technician for this maintenance check. They will assess every component of the system and make repairs as needed. Have a certified professional inspect the HVAC at least annually. An HVAC system is complicated, and there are likely things you won’t know to look for.
Professional Help for HVAC Maintenance
If you are unsure about a potential problem or feel that you are inadequately equipped to deal with the HVAC system in your home, contact an experienced technician to take a look. Issues that are not always apparent to the untrained eye can be caught by a trained professional and save you on repairs down the line. For that reason, it is wise to have someone inspect the system at least once a year.
Greentech Home Inspections offers home inspections to homeowners in Greater Las Vegas. Contact us to request our services.