Routine maintenance of your HVAC system is crucial when heading into the summer months. With mild to sweltering heat ahead, there’s no better time than the present to fine tune your home’s air conditioning unit. While you’re at it, you can also take the time to ensure the heating system works properly.
Protect Your Unit
The outdoor unit of your HVAC system houses the fan, providing airflow, and a compressor that converts refrigerant from a gas to liquid form, chilling coils that cool the air that passes through.
Pro Tip: Protect your outdoor unit with a set of custom covers. A custom cover will not only protect your equipment from inclement weather but add an aesthetic flair to your home through the whole winter season.
Air Filtration Station
If you’ve ever wondered when you should change your air filters. You would do well to remember the 90 day rule. Every three to four months, depending upon your own personal use of your AC system, is the appropriate frame for keeping the air in your house fresh and cool.
Pro Tip: A blocked filter can decrease the efficiency of your system; so keeping a clean filter will save money on your bill and keep your system running smoothly for years to come.
Cover the Condenser
Unless your HVAC is a heat pump system, you will need to keep your AC condenser throughout the year. If you’ve ever had one of these go out in your vehicle, you know just how HOT it can be if your condenser goes on the fritz
One easy solution is to cover your condenser with a custom cover, keeping it safe from debris until it gets the lionshare of use in summer. Custom covers are the best bet in protecting, especially if your condenser is located anywhere near the exterior of your home.
Check for Leaks
While you could pull your cellular shades and roller shades down and hope that blocking the sun cools your house down, there’s nothing worse than a leaky air vent on a summer day.
In addition to being a waste of cool air, vents with many leaks can cost you a pretty penny if not properly repaired. And while you could have sections of your vents removed and replaced, one temporary fix involves a handyman’s best friend.
Pro Tip: Duct tape and elbow grease go a long way in sealing leaks until you can come up with a more permanent solution. To check for air leaks. Place your hand over the metal on each section of your air ducts. If you feel air against your hand, the connection is loose and there is a leak.
Clean the Heat Exchanger
To optimize your time, make sure to do the work of checking on the heating components of your HVAC system while double checking your AC. Cleaning out the heat exchanger of your furnace is crucial in pinpointing efficiency of your furnace.
Brush or vacuum out your furnace’s heat exchanger annually. Keeping your heat exchanger pristine is important, as even a small amount of soot forces your gas furnace to work harder, sending your energy bill sky high.
Keep Carbon Monoxide Away
While you’re looking into your heat exchanger, keep an eye out for any cracks. All gas appliances carry the risk of leaking carbon monoxide. To keep everyone safe from this winter, inspect all gas appliances for potential leaks, and install and test carbon monoxide detectors throughout your home.
Lubricate & Clean
Your HVAC’s blower sucks in warm air through the main section of your unit. The more efficiently it moves air, the more efficient your system will be. Make sure to clean your blower’s motor from any grime or buildup, and if needed, provide lubrication.
Most blower motors are permanently lubricated, with the motor sealed in by the manufacturer. However, some are only covered with oil ports, and require annual lubrication. If your blower needs lubrication, apply two to three drops of 10-weight non-detergent motor oil to each port for peak efficiency.
Take the Test
No matter where your furnace is located — in the attic, garage, or closet — conduct a thorough visual inspection before the winter. Make sure there’s no debris blocking your vents, or animals resting in the flue. Afterwards, test your furnace to ensure it’s functional.
When you test your system, it should give you peace of mind to know that whatever the summer may hold, be it takeout dinners on your outdoor patio with dining set covers removed or heading away on holiday, you have completed this task and rest easy throughout the rest of the year.
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