Air Conditioning Installation: Everything You Need To Know About HVAC Systems | Fort Worth, TX
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Having a basic understanding of how things work in your Fort Worth, TX, home is important if you want to keep everything in good shape. While nobody expects the average homeowner to be a professional plumber or electrician, it’s definitely a huge help to know a little bit. For example, you should know when it’s time for new air conditioner installation and when you just need a little bit of maintenance or repairs.
If you’ve got a fairly new HVAC system and you aren’t interested in air conditioner installation, your best bet is figuring out how to spot problems and knowing when to call a professional. You should also be aware of the basic maintenance you can do to keep your HVAC system in good shape. As long as you know these basics about HVAC systems, you can keep yours in great shape for many years to come.
Air Filters
Arguably the most important thing to understand when it comes to your HVAC system is the fact that airflow plays a huge role in everything working properly. In order for your air conditioner to pull humidity out of the air and cool the air in your home, air needs to flow through. If you want your furnace to blow hot air through the ducts and into your home, you need to make sure that air has a clean path. This is why you should have an air conditioner installation expert replace the air filter in your HVAC system on a regular basis.
The tough part about air filters is that the conditions in your home affect how often they need to be replaced. While some people can get away with replacing an air filter once every six months or so, that’s not going to be the case if you have pets or a large family. Most people have to replace their air filter at least once every three months. If you have several pets and children, you should have an air conditioner installation company replace your air filter every month or so.
Another thing to remember about air filters is that not all of them are made equal. When it comes time to replace your air filter, you’ll have your choice between several different ratings and types. The MERV rating is the most commonly used when it comes to air filters; the higher the MERV of a filter is, the smaller particles it can filter out of the air. The biggest problem with this is the fact that higher MERV filters can restrict airflow a bit, which makes it harder to heat and cool your home.
Some air conditioner installation experts recommend HEPA filters if you want great filtration without impacting airflow too much. HEPA air filters are specifically designed to remove as many contaminants from the air as possible, leaving you with clean air that’s easy to breathe and an HVAC system that’s still getting plenty of airflow.
Seasonal Maintenance
As a Fort Worth, TX, homeowner, it’s important to make sure you’re keeping up with all the maintenance and repairs your home needs. Unfortunately, a lot of people don’t do that when it comes to their HVAC systems. If you want to save money on major repairs and keep your HVAC system running smoothly, you should have the company that handled your air conditioner installation come out and do seasonal maintenance regularly.
Since your HVAC system does most of its work during the summer and winter, it’s most important to make sure it’s prepared for these seasons. Plus, the other seasons are considered off-seasons for heating and cooling, which makes them the perfect time to take care of all your seasonal maintenance needs. Most experts recommend having seasonal maintenance done twice yearly in the spring and fall. This includes things like changing your air filter, cleaning up your furnace and AC and inspecting everything for signs of problems. Any good air conditioner installation company can take care of seasonal maintenance in a short time.
There are two reasons it’s vital to keep up with seasonal maintenance. For starters, making sure somebody takes a look at your HVAC system before the peak heating and cooling seasons means you don’t have to worry about problems at inopportune times. On top of that, having an air conditioner installation expert check out your HVAC system and clean things up a bit can greatly extend the life of your HVAC system.
Duct Cleaning
While you don’t need to have your ducts cleaned too often, it’s still an important thing to keep up with. All the air that runs through your HVAC system runs through these ducts and into your home; if your ducts are dirty, the warm or cool air that enters your home will carry that dust and dirt with it.
As a general rule, you should make sure you’re having your ducts cleaned once every three to five years for optimal indoor air quality. You don’t want to be breathing in too much dirt and dust from your ducts, but you should also understand that it takes a while for that buildup to accrue. However, you can have your ducts cleaned a little more often if you don’t mind spending the money and want to prioritize indoor air quality.
As a side note to this duct cleaning section, you can skip this step completely by opting for a ductless mini split system. These ductless mini splits are routed straight into your home with no ducts, plus you can install several units throughout your home for zoned heating and cooling. However, it does cost a bit more than traditional air conditioner installation.
Odors
Keeping an eye out for HVAC problems is an important part of being a responsible homeowner. When you spot a potential problem, you need to call an air conditioner installation and repair company to handle it. One of the signs you’re most likely to spot is a strange odor coming from your HVAC system.
Oftentimes, the odor you’ll smell coming from your HVAC system is a result of mold and mildew. If you’ve got a moisture problem in your AC, for example, that moisture can build up and lead to mold growth. If you notice a musty smell coming from your AC, you should call a air conditioner installation company to take a look at it right away.
You might also smell a burning odor from your heating or cooling system, which is a sign that something isn’t properly lubricated and is getting too hot as a result. It could be that you’ve got bad bearings, a bad motor or a bad belt, but in any case you should leave inspection and repairs up to a trusted heating and air conditioner installation company.
Sounds
There are a lot of sounds you might notice coming from your AC or furnace. While your HVAC system should make a little bit of noise when it’s on, that doesn’t mean there should be any loud or unusual sounds when you turn on your heating or cooling.
One of the sounds you’re most likely to hear is a thumping or clanking noise coming from your furnace or AC. Generally, this is the result of some part coming loose and hitting something it shouldn’t be hitting. Because it’s difficult to tell exactly what’s wrong from a simple sound, you should have a heating and air conditioner installation company take a look at your HVAC system if you notice thumping or clanking noises.
Squealing and screeching sounds are also common when it comes to HVAC systems. If these are the sounds you’re hearing, there’s a good chance you’ve got a bad fan belt or a problem with your blower. The thing is, that fan belt is only going to get worse with time, and running an HVAC system with faulty parts can cause problems in other parts of the system as well. If you want to avoid expensive repairs and keep your HVAC system up and running, you should call an expert if you hear a squealing sound.
Refrigerant Leaks
For the most part, you probably won’t notice any excess moisture around your AC. As long as air conditioner installation and maintenance are done right, your AC should properly dispose of excess moisture and keep all of its refrigerant contained. However, there are times when that moisture builds up or there’s a loose connection that causes a leak.
As a homeowner, you need to know the difference between refrigerant and water. If your AC is simply leaking a bit of extra moisture, it might be that you need to clean the condensate drain line or drain pan. Not only is that fairly easy to do, but you also don’t have to worry about being exposed to any harmful chemicals.
Refrigerant, on the other hand, is a whole different ball game. Refrigerant leaks can originate from several different sources, which makes it that much more important to call an air conditioner installation and maintenance company when you’ve got a leak. On top of that, exposure to refrigerant can be a hazard to your health, so it’s best to let the professionals deal with it.
Upgrading Your System
No matter how hard you try to keep up with maintenance and repairs, there’s going to come a time when you need to upgrade your HVAC system. First of all, furnaces and air conditioners aren’t made to last forever. Plus, your furnace will lose efficiency with time and will eventually start costing you more on your monthly bill.
If you’re not sure whether or not you need a new HVAC system, ask a heating and air conditioner installation expert to inspect it. The thing is, whether or not it’s time to upgrade depends on the condition of your HVAC system, how efficient it is and how old it is. An air conditioner installation expert can take all these factors into account to help you make the right decision.
One of the big benefits to new air conditioner installation is the fact that you can upgrade to something more efficient. Not only are newer HVAC systems a lot more efficient than their older counterparts, you can also opt for an ENERGY STAR certified model or a high-efficiency unit.
Expert Help
As tempting as it might be to handle some of your HVAC maintenance and repairs on your own, that’s never a good idea. Taking care of your heating and cooling system requires a lot of knowledge and specific tools, and the last thing you want is to be left with no heating and cooling in your Fort Worth, TX, home.
The most important thing to remember when it comes to hiring a professional for air conditioner installation, maintenance, and repair is the fact that you actually save money over time. If you don’t keep up with maintenance and repairs, you’re going to end up with a major problem with your HVAC system. While spending a few hundred on routine maintenance and repairs might seem like a lot, it’s nothing compared to having to replace your entire furnace or AC because you tried to fix something on your own.
The Easy Way
When you’re not an expert when it comes to HVAC, it’s not easy to keep up with maintenance and repairs. The best thing you can do is understand the basics so you know when it’s time to call in a professional.
If you’re in the Fort Worth, TX, area, there’s no better way to handle heating and air conditioner repair than calling One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Fort Worth. Thanks to years of experience, we can help you keep your HVAC system in absolutely pristine condition. If you need a little help taking care of your HVAC system, call One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating at (817) 283-6911.