Owning a home means you’re responsible for a lot of different things, from making sure all your bills are paid to keeping up with maintenance around the house. What a lot of homeowners don’t know is just how important it is to take care of their HVAC system. Regular HVAC system maintenance not only prevents problems that can cost thousands, it also makes sure your heating and cooling are running smoothly. If you haven’t had a heating and air conditioning repair expert look at your HVAC system in a while, here’s what you should know about taking care of it.
Air Filters
The first thing you need to understand about your heating and cooling systems in terms of maintenance is how the air filters work. All the air that comes through your ducts from your HVAC system is sent through an air filter, which is responsible for removing as many contaminants as possible before that air reaches your home. In doing its job, the air filter eventually gets dirty and loses effectiveness.
Even if you’re having a repair expert do maintenance and inspections on your HVAC system, you should still be replacing your air filter more often than that. Most people should replace their air filter at least twice a year, although that number is quickly reduced to 60 or 90 days if you’ve got pets or a large household.
Another thing to keep in mind when it comes to your air filter is that there are different air filter ratings, some of which remove more contaminants than others. If you’re not sure what type of air filter you should buy for your HVAC system, a heating and air conditioning repair expert can help you choose the right one.
Seasonal Maintenance
Of all the things you can do to take care of your HVAC system and prevent problems, having seasonal maintenance done by a heating and air conditioning repair pro is one of the best moves you can make. The great part about seasonal HVAC maintenance is that it’s fairly simple and doesn’t take long, so a professional can be in and out and have your HVAC system ready for the summer or winter.
A lot of seasonal maintenance involves cleaning your heating and cooling systems. Proper airflow is essential if you want the best heating and cooling for your home, so you need to make sure you’re keeping your furnace and air conditioner clean. A repair expert will also look at some of the parts of your heating and cooling systems to make sure they don’t need to be replaced.
As far as a timeline goes, most pros recommend having seasonal maintenance done twice a year, once during the spring and once during the fall. Not only are these good times for maintenance since you aren’t using your heating and cooling, maintenance during fall and spring also help prepare your HVAC system for the most demanding seasons.
Operating Tips
While maintenance is huge when it comes to keeping the heating and cooling in your Minneapolis, MN, home in good shape, it’s not the only thing you need to do. Making sure you’re not pushing your HVAC system too hard is a good way to prevent problems and reduce the wear and tear that comes with years of operation.
One of the best things you can do if you want to reduce the amount of wear you’re putting on your heating and cooling systems is reduce the amount you use them. You might be tempted to crank up the heat or blast your AC when your home isn’t comfortable, but it’s best to set your thermostat to a milder temperature that you can maintain throughout the day. Most people are comfortable with a temperature of about 68 to 70 degrees, although that may depend on the humidity and whether it’s hot or cold outside. If you want to avoid spending your hard-earned money on heating and air conditioning repair, you should never crank your thermostat way up or way down for comfort purposes.
Identifying Problems
Even if you keep up with seasonal maintenance and have your air filter changed every once in a while, there’s still a chance you’ll need heating and air conditioning repair every now and again. As a homeowner, one of the best things you can do to stay on top of these problems is understand what the common problems are and how you can spot them.
If your AC doesn’t seem to be making your home any cooler, chances are it’s an issue with the refrigerant, coils or air filter. Dirty coils or a bad air filter almost always results in a heating and air conditioning repair call.
If you notice a strange noise coming from your heating or cooling system, you should have a professional check it out before you run it too much. While some sounds are simply a result of an old system showing its age, there are times when a strange noise may be indicative of a bigger problem.
Other problems that frequently require heating and air conditioning repair are thermostat problems, pilot light or ignition system problems and units which are more than a decade old and are nearing the end of their life.
Simple Solutions
You’ve got a lot to keep up with if you want to be a responsible homeowner. The best thing you can do is educate yourself about everything in your home and how to take care of it.
When it comes to your HVAC system, you need the help of a heating and air conditioning repair company. For homeowners in the Minneapolis, MN, area, Blue Ox Heating & Air is the easy solution. If you need your HVAC system inspected before the demanding summer months, give us a call today at (612) 389-8386.
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