Your HVAC system takes on considerable strain throughout the year, which makes regular seasonal maintenance essential to its proper operation. Routine inspection can reduce strain while also helping detect minor issues before they escalate further.
Clean and well-lubricated air conditioning and heater systems run more efficiently, which translates into lower energy bills. Here’s what to expect during an HVAC seasonal maintenance visit, but also what you can do to maintain your system yourself.
Check the Filters
Replacing your air filter regularly also helps keep allergens that cause asthma and allergies out of your home, significantly decreasing symptoms while saving money on medications and doctor visits. A properly functioning filter will also significantly decrease the time spent dealing with those symptoms, as well as medication costs and visits.
As soon as it becomes necessary to use your system again, seasonal maintenance should take place ideally prior to doing so – typically during spring or fall when heating repair services tend to peak in demand. Scheduling preventative maintenance early can often mean cheaper rates.
Be sure to regularly inspect and maintain your outdoor unit by inspecting and cleaning its fan blades, testing and replacing batteries in carbon monoxide detectors, sealing air leaks, ensuring there are no obstructions around your furnace, programming the thermostat to be cool in summer months and warm during winter ones, and checking air filters as required.
Conducting regular maintenance on your HVAC system can extend its life and enhance its performance, saving both money and reducing waste production. A well-maintained HVAC takes less energy to run, saving you time by limiting the amount of work you need to put into it compared with older, less-efficient models, which consume more power and emit more emissions into the environment. Regular HVAC maintenance pays for itself over time with savings and lengthening the lifespan of system performance.
Clean the Furnace
Filth particles entering your furnace also clog essential mechanical parts such as fans and blowers, leading to overheating and making your system less efficient than necessary, driving up energy bills in turn. Regular furnace maintenance helps address these issues as well as extending its lifespan.
Cleaning your furnace can be an arduous task for maximum effectiveness and to protect the health of your family. There are some simple tasks you can take on to help keep things running smoothly: turn off the power switch for your furnace, close the gas valve on its pipe leading into it, take out your existing filter, and hold it up against a light because if light shines through, this indicates some life still remaining or otherwise it’s time for a replacement.
Next, use attachments and a brush or broom to vacuum out any stubborn dirt from the blower compartment. Be careful not to disturb any counterweights or wires in the blower; otherwise, a technician should be called in to examine and adjust it as soon as possible.
Finally, thoroughly wipe down the exterior of your furnace and inspect for signs of soot accumulation. Soot on pilot light assemblies and hot surface ignitor is an indicator of poor combustion, so regularly cleaning these areas is crucial to ensure optimal combustion performance.
Inspect the Thermostat
The thermostat is an integral component of any HVAC system, as it controls the flow of warm air throughout your home while increasing energy efficiency. A professional technician like those at dtmpro.com should inspect it regularly to check for damage or wear and tear. This should all be done while making sure that it functions at its optimum settings and meets temperature specifications, but contact them below to find out more about what they can do:
D.T.M. Heating And Air Conditioning
12509 N Saginaw Blvd, Suite 332, Fort Worth, TX 76179
(817) 386-5471
https://dtmpro.com
A technician will also examine the wiring and connections to the thermostat to prevent any problems that could lead to an electrical outage, as well as identify any potential safety concerns such as overheating or carbon monoxide leaks that may arise due to over-reliance. It’s wise to leave this task in the hands of professionals with extensive HVAC system experience.
HVAC equipment can endure significant strain, so some issues are bound to arise at some point in its lifespan. Regular seasonal maintenance services will minimize these issues and save both money and extend its lifespan, giving maximum value to it. To make the most out of your system investment, schedule seasonal maintenance services each spring and fall in order to avoid costly and stressful repairs that come from neglecting HVAC equipment.
Clean the Vents
Dirty air ducts can become breeding grounds for mold, allergens, and bacteria that threaten your family’s health, as well as block the flow of air between rooms in your living spaces. Professional duct cleaning services use powerful vacuums and tools to remove dirt, dust and debris from inside of air ducts while also cleaning vent covers, as well as scrubbing blower fins to ensure optimal airflow.
Visible debris accumulation on vents and covers is an obvious indicator that it’s time for cleaning, as this debris clogs HVAC filters, aggravating allergy symptoms and contributing to poor indoor air quality. Unpleasant odors also point towards needing vent cleaning – mold thrives in dark, moist environments like air ducts, creating slimy smells that may be difficult to eradicate.
Keep your outdoor unit free of debris to reduce the need for frequent cleaning and maintenance visits from technicians, saving both money and effort in the process. Make sure nothing within 18 inches of it, such as grass clippings, dirt or leaves is blowing in during operation – this will minimize their need to complete an intensive outdoor clean up job each time they come for maintenance visits, saving both your time and effort in doing so.
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