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A malfunction of your HVAC system can result in you having no treated air for a long time. This can cause you to be exposed to the extreme temperatures in your area, which can cause you to get sick or worsen existing health conditions. You can avoid these unexpected malfunctions by following a few suggestions to take better care of your system.
5 tips to prevent HVAC emergencies
Keep your filter clean
According to Jeffersonville HVACOne of the most important things you can do to keep your HVAC system running efficiently is also one of the most overlooked preventive maintenance issues. Your system’s filter should be checked and replaced at least every 30 days to ensure that you are always using a clean filter. One reason why this is so important is that it can affect you and the health of your family members. A dirty filter causes dust, animal hair, pollen and other allergens to be returned throughout the house. This means that you continue to inhale these debris. If your family has difficulty breathing, checking the filter can solve these health problems.
A dirty filter can be just as destructive to your air conditioner because a clogged filter makes it more difficult to push the air through the system. When airflow is restricted, your system works harder and uses more energy to achieve the same level of comfort. This can ultimately lead to more wear and tear on the system, which means that you will notice a mechanical failure much earlier.
Keep the condenser unit clean
If you are not familiar with the various components of your air conditioner, the condenser is the large unit that is right in front of your house. The device has ventilation slots to prevent dirt and pests from getting into the parts of the device. However, this does not mean that leaves, sticks, waste and small pests cannot get into the device. You can avoid damage to the device by keeping the area around the capacitor clean. This means that bushes or weeds in the immediate vicinity are removed and leaves and litter are raked regularly. If branches hang directly above the device, you should cut them off so that leaves and other foreign objects do not fall on the device.
When cleaning the condenser unit, take a minute to look at the cables and hoses leading from the unit to your home. Make sure they are still intact and connected. If pests have chewed the cables or hoses, you should have them replaced immediately. You may also want to take measures to keep pests away from the environment.
Watch out for leaks
When you open your HVAC unit in your house, you will see a pan with a small hole that leads to it the drain pipe that takes water outside. Condensation forms in the pan while your appliance is operating. Over time, the opening of the drain pipe can become blocked by mold and algae, causing water to collect in the pan. If you don’t check the pan regularly, the water can accumulate so much that it drips over the edge of the pan and reaches the bottom.
You should take a look at the pan once a month to make sure it is working properly. If this is not the case, you can use a wet and dry vacuum to drain water from the pan and remove mold in the drain. If the vacuum does not solve the problem, you can try cleaning the entire drain pipe with a small drain snake. If there is mold or algae deeper in the drain pipe, the snake will help you push it out to the end.
Clean the ventilation slots, ducts and registers
Your HVAC system relies on a duct system to deliver the treated air into your house and to push the exhaust gases out of the house. The exhaust air ducts are covered with a vent at which they leave the house. The ventilation should let the air out and at the same time prevent dirt and pests from entering the house. Over time, the ventilation slots can become clogged with dirt so that the air is not properly pushed out of the house. In this case, the channels can be damaged by applying additional pressure to the system. If you take the time to check and clean these vents, you can ensure that this part of the system is working properly.
Your heating and cooling ducts must also be kept clean to ensure the continued operation of your system. Dirt can get stuck in your channels and cause an accumulation that endangers the condition of the channels. As soon as a hole has been made in the channels or a leak has formed in places where parts of the channels are connected, the house will no longer cool or heat the house as efficiently. This forces the device to use more energy and work harder to achieve the same level of comfort. You can avoid this situation by cleaning the channels once a season and the registers every few weeks. If you find dust collecting faster, you may need to clean the channels and registers more often.
Request a system inspection
Finally, your system should be serviced by a professional HVAC technician at the beginning of the spring / summer and fall / winter season. There are several reasons why your system needs this preventive maintenance twice a year. First, the technician will clean the various components of your heating and cooling system more thoroughly. To do this, these components must be disassembled to clean the inside of the system, replenish the refrigerant level and check the belts, fans and cables.
In addition, your HVAC contractor can identify problems with the device that could affect continued operation throughout the season. This allows you to identify problems before failure so you can plan repairs in advance. It can also help you complete repairs before the system stops working. The preventive care you devote to your HVAC system ensures that you don’t have to go without treated air when you need it most.
