What Your Heating and Air Conditioning System Needs
The good people of Fort Worth, TX actively participate in home maintenance. There are several little things they do that increase the value of their home that don’t take much time, effort, or resources such as mowing their lawn, pruning their shrubbery and painting the house. This diligent effort in the upkeep of homes is why almost all homes in Fort Worth, TX are bound to earn a second look. However, there seems to be a serious lack of maintenance when it comes to the heating and air conditioning systems in Fort Worth, TX. There are too many heating and air conditioning systems that come in for repair and this high number is only reflective of the fact that these units are severely neglected.
As a homeowner, there are several preventative steps you can take so you don’t have to rush in for an emergency repair of your heating and air conditioning units. Many heating and air conditioning repairs experts in Fort Worth, TX charge an additional fee if the units are to receive an emergency repair. By actively fulfilling the needs of your heating and air conditioning system, you can significantly extend its lifespan and improve its performance. Plus, you would not have to spend extra bucks when the heating and air conditioning system fails all of a sudden.
Let’s go through some basic needs of your heating and air conditioning system that must be fulfilled
1. Changing the filters regularly
This is an easy one. Changing the filters is something even members of the household can do themselves. In fact, changing filters regularly is something home owners are supposed to do. Ask yourself when was the last time you changed your filters? Have your allergies been acting up lately? If you have allergies or pets, you have got to change the filters on your air conditioning units every three months. Some experts suggest, if you have big dogs at your home it is best you change the filters every month. Filters that are rated MERV 7-11 are highly recommended, but don’t exceed these ratings because any filter more than that will just end up obstructing the airflow of your air conditioning unit which will only reduce the efficiency of the system. It can get pretty dusty in Fort Worth, TX so don’t skip replacing the filters as the clogged filters will only add onto your energy bills.
2. Having the condensing unit cleaned
Your heating and air conditioning unit most likely has a condensing unit or a heat pump located outside the house. If you are wondering what a condensing unit is, it’s that big blocky metal box with a huge fan on it to dissipate the heat it throws out. The condensing unit requires cleaning because the metal fins on it can get obstructed with debris that gets trapped inside, including pollen, dirt, debris and grime. Having a heating and air condition service expert over for inspection will reveal any obstructions in the condensing unit that have been responsible for the reduced performance of your heating and air conditioning system so they can then be professionally removed. Home owners often try to wash the condensing unit with a pressure washer. Never do this. Using a pressure washer on the condensing unit and its metal fins can permanently damage it.
3. Inspecting the drain pipe and drain pan of the evaporator coil
This is one of the main things included in the heating and air condition service checklist. Most home owners don’t quite know where the drain pipe of the evaporator coil is located and that’s okay because they don’t have to. Over time, algae or mold accumulate within these drain pipes and obstruct them. Algae prefer a moist and enclosed environment, making an evaporator coil’s drain pipe the ideal place to grow. A heating and air condition service professional may use a wet-dry vacuum to remove these accumulated algae and clear out the drain pipe thoroughly. Some use bleach to clean the drain pipe and drain pan too. Don’t wait until the water starts seeping through the ceiling. Make sure you get heating and air condition service regularly to avoid water damage from the drain pipe.
4. Make sure there is adequate clearance around your outdoor unit
Often times, the outdoor unit of your heating and air conditioning system are blocked by overgrown vegetation. Some home owners may intentionally try to cover the outdoor unit with bushes and vegetation in an attempt to hide it so that the landscape looks better without the awkward looking outdoor unit. While they may have accomplished a more consistent looking landscape, it is at the expense of a needlessly higher energy bill. It is recommended that there should be at least 2 feet of clearance around all sides of the outdoor unit. If there are bushes, leaves, or pieces of outdoor furniture nearer than 2 feet of the outdoor unit, they might be causing the heating and air conditioning system to work harder than it should and consume more energy because of reduced efficiency. Make sure there is adequate clearance around the outdoor unit by removing anything within 2 feet of the outdoor unit.
5. Proper use of thermostat
Thermostats are incredibly helpful instruments when it comes to saving energy on your heating and air conditioning systems in Fort Worth, TX. If you use your programmable thermostats wisely, you can save a great deal of energy. Make sure you increase the temperature by a few degrees at night; you won’t even feel a slight difference when you are asleep, and your HVAC system will be running on lower energy throughout the night. Additionally, when the whole family is going out, you can allow the thermostat regulated heating and air conditioning system’s temperature to rise up by a few degrees while everyone is away since cooling or heating a home with no people is a waste of energy.