Tips and Tricks to Care for Your HVAC System | Insight from Your Trusted Fort Worth, TX Heating and Air Conditioning Repair
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A well-maintained HVAC system comes in handy on a cold winter night or a hot summer afternoon. Your HVAC system is the key to a comfortable home. With proper care, it can remain in good condition for a long time. The following are a few tips to keep in mind.
1. Visual Inspections
Perform regular visual inspections to make sure that your air conditioner is working properly. Make sure that the ducts are not leaking and that there are no traces of dust around your home. If there is a build-up of vegetation, get rid of it so it does not interfere with the flow of air for your outdoor unit. If the vegetation has lots of pollen, be careful as it can clog up your condensing unit. Check for holes and small dents. They may be a sign that you need urgent heating and AC repair.
2. Change Your Filters
Make it a habit to change your filters regularly. Use disposable filters to make sure that your system stays clean. Ideally, you should change your filters every one to three months. You may need to change your filters more often if you have pets. Your heating and AC repair expert may advise you depending on the unit you have.
If you do not change your filters often, there will be a build-up of dirt, dust, and debris. You may notice an increase in allergies in your home due to the impaired circulation of air in your home.
3. Schedule Regular Maintenance
Schedule regular maintenance with a competent Fort Worth, TX, professional at least twice every year. They will check your system for issues and perform repairs if necessary. Maintenance includes; vacuuming compartments of the blower, cleaning the coils, checking the operation of your furnace, checking the drain pan, checking for obstructions and build-up of contaminants, and ensuring that the drainage system works well. Schedule your maintenance during spring and fall and you can avoid heating and air conditioning repair when you need your system the most.
4. Clean the Outdoor Housing
Most homeowners neglect the outdoor part of their split system. The outdoor component gets soiled with debris and dust over time and it needs to be cleaned. Your condenser coils are often installed within a housing that is outdoors. If there is an accumulation of debris on the condenser, your unit cannot work efficiently. Clean the outdoor housing carefully to avoid causing damage. Consider getting the help of a professional or you may cause damage to the fins.
5. Repair Leaking Ducts Immediately
If you have a leaking duct, seek the help of a heating and air conditioning repair expert as soon as possible. The technician will fix the problem as soon as possible. A leaking duct can lose up to 30% of conditioned air before it reaches your space.
6. Check the Drainpipe of the Evaporator Coil
Consider seeking the help of a heating and air conditioning repair expert if you don’t know where to find your drain pipe. They will check it for blockages and the presence of mold. A clogged drain line is a major cause of breakdowns in the summer.
7. Clean and Adjust Your Dumpers
Strive to adjust your dumpers annually. Incorrect damper operation is a leading cause of faulty HVAC equipment. It may affect the quality of air in your home. Your dampers ensure that the compressor continues to run when the temperature of outside air is low. If you do not clean, they inhibit free cooling potential. Inspect all the moving parts and lubricate them to ensure that the damper continues to run through the full range.
8. Use a Programmable Thermostat
Invest in a programmable thermostat to minimize wear and tear on your HVAC system. The thermostat turns your heat and AC on or off depending on the needs of your home.
9. Use Energy-Efficient HVAC Equipment
Use energy-efficient equipment to minimize your energy costs and prolong the lifespan of your system. Consider using models with high SEER ratings.
10. Insulation
Insulation may protect your air conditioner from wear and tear. If your home is poorly insulated, you may lose a lot of conditioned air causing your air conditioner to work harder than it should. Contact a heating and air conditioning repair expert in Fort Worth, TX and ask for help. They will help you add insulation to your windows and walls.
11. Power Down Your Electronics
Power down any electronics that are not in use. It is a good way to save energy and minimize the heat in your home. When they are on, your machinery and electronics produce a lot of heat. Your air conditioner works hard to keep your space cool. Powering down electronics that are not in use may minimize the wear and tear of your air conditioner.
12. Close Your Curtains
Closing your curtains may help you cut down on energy costs. Curtains keep sunshine from entering your home. They ensure that your air conditioner does not work too hard to cool the home. When the sun goes down, you may open the curtains to let the out excess heat.
13. Keep Your Air Conditioner Away from Direct Sunlight
The best place for your air conditioner is on the north side of your property. If this is not possible, choose a position that is away from direct sunlight. Consider landscaping to keep your air conditioning unit away from the sun. It is a great way to improve the appearance of your home and improve the efficiency of your conditioning unit. Ensure that your plants are at least three feet away from your unit
14. Keep Your Unit on Level Ground
Always ensure that your outdoor heat pumps and air conditioning units are on level ground or a firm surface.
15. Shut Off Water Supply to the Furnace Humidifier
Whenever you plan on turning on the heat, change your humidifier wick filter and set the humidistat to about 35% relative humidity. Turn on your water supply.
Reasons to Care for Your HVAC System
There are plenty of reasons to maintain your HVAC system. Many homeowners do not pay much attention to their HVAC system until it is time for heating and air conditioning repair. A well-maintained system keeps your home comfortable and minimizes energy expenses.
Here are a few reasons you should maintain your HVAC system
Improving the Lifespan of Your System
A well-maintained system lasts long. It works at optimum efficiency and you won’t need to schedule frequent heating and air conditioning repair with your Fort Worth, TX technician. Taking care of your system ensures that it keeps you comfortable for a long time.
Saving Money
Caring for your HVAC system may help you save money. It lowers your energy bills, prevents expensive breakdowns, and extends the life of your system. With proper maintenance, you can minimize the frequency of heating and air conditioning repair. Maintenance lowers the risk of expensive breakdowns by up to 95%. It can help you save energy bills by up to 30%.
Improved Comfort
You rely on your HVAC system to keep you comfortable during extreme weather. Proper maintenance helps your system distribute cool or warm air evenly to keep your space comfortable at all times. Take preventive measures such as changing your filters and cleaning your ductwork to improve the efficiency of your system. Proper maintenance minimizes the presence of dust particles or foul smells in your home.
Keeping Your Home Safe
Many homeowners have to deal with the horrifying results of a poorly maintained HVAC system. Some of them include coming home to a frozen and damaged house or burst pipes. The cost of hiring a Fort Worth, TX HVAC repair expert can be high. Preventive maintenance makes it possible to detect problems and solve them before they get out of hand. It safeguards your household from exposure to carbon monoxide which can be toxic. Heating and air conditioning repair can be avoided by performing routine maintenance.
Avoiding Emergency Situations
If you neglect your HVAC system, you may end up with an emergency when it is least convenient. If you have well-maintained systems, you reduce the risk of needing heating and air conditioning repair when you need your system the most.
Improved Indoor Air Quality
When there is high humidity in your home, mold may grow in your coils or condensate pan. The presence of mold in the air triggers allergies and asthma. It can lead to an outbreak of diseases in your home. The quality of your indoor air may be compromised if there is a circulation of pollen, dust, or debris. Your HVAC repair expert may help you replace faulty parts and clean any parts of the system during routine maintenance.
Helping the Environment
If you are concerned about minimizing your carbon footprint, caring for your HVAC system may be a step in the right direction. A properly-maintained system consumes little fuel which is good for the environment. Your heating and air conditioning repair expert can help you understand the efficiency of the refrigerant you are using. They can also talk to you about other ways to protect the planet.
Preserving Your Warranty
With a warranty, you can get a heating and air conditioning repair at no cost. Improper maintenance of your system may render the warranty void. Regular and proper maintenance preserves your warranty. Neglecting seasonal maintenance means you will have frequent and costly HVAC repairs.
Peace of Mind
Having a proper maintenance plan for your HVAC system gives you peace of mind. You can go on with your day knowing that the chances of dealing with emergency heating and air conditioning repair are minimal.
If you need heating and air conditioning repair or maintenance, you should work with a professional company. Even though it is possible to do the job yourself, it is not a good idea. The following are a few reasons why you should hire a professional.
Safety
A professional and experienced technician can do the job safely. They can minimize your exposure to gas leaks and carbon monoxide. HVAC technicians are trained to identify threats and ensure that they don’t get out of hand.
Reliability
Even though it is possible to do the job yourself, there is no assurance that it won’t break down again. Unless you have experience in HVAC matters, you may soon need another heating and air conditioning repair. Experienced technicians are reliable. They will inspect your system and address the root issue of the problem.
Cost
DIY projects are not always as affordable as they seem. If you aren’t experienced, you are likely to make lots of costly mistakes or buy unnecessary parts. You may end up making the problem worse than it is. Getting heating and air conditioning repair may be more cost-effective than DIY projects.
Speed
If you want fast results, hiring a professional for your heating and air conditioning repair makes sense. An expert can quickly identify the cause of the problem and its possible solutions. They are unlikely to waste your time researching on the best repair options for different parts. With DIY projects, however, you must spend a lot of time doing research and experimenting.
Are you looking for a Fort Worth, TX HVAC expert, consider working with One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating. We have a team of skilled technicians who can handle heating and air conditioning repair, installation, replacement, and service. We perform background checks and drug tests on all our employees. Each one of them is registered with the State of Texas. We have lots of satisfied customers. Some of them have been repeat customers for as long as 20 years. Our services are reliable and affordable. Whether you need a new system installed or your equipment repaired, we strive to remain within your budget limits. If you have questions about your HVAC system, our knowledgeable members of staff are happy to answer them. Contact us today and ask for help.