Maintain Your Heating and Cooling System with These Tips

Maintenance is vital for your HVAC system. Not only does regular maintenance keep your unit in good working order, it uncovers small issues before they become huge problems. It prolongs the life of your system and even saves you money.

While professional maintenance is recommended, you're still encouraged to do your part. By checking out and maintaining your system between regular checkups, you can promote the life and health of your HVAC system.

Establish a Maintenance Plan

You need a plan before you can do anything successfully. The same is true of HVAC maintenance. To run smoothly, your HVAC system needs timely and routine maintenance. So, it's important to establish a maintenance schedule to ensure it gets done.

What all goes into a maintenance plan? First, you should plan to replace your air filters every 30 to 90 days. This is also a great time to look clean your drain line and look over the unit for grime buildup and/or any potential issues.

Second, you should clean your unit and remove debris and vegetation annually. Third, you should establish a professional inspection at least once per year. Ideally, you want to have the heat portion of your system checked in the fall and the cooling portion of your system checked in the spring.

Change Your Filter

Clogged air filters can reduce air flow and make your unit work harder, resulting in damage. The fan motor and heat exchanger are especially vulnerable under these circumstances. Dirty air filters also allow dirt to get into and build up in your system, which can lead to breakdowns and dirty ducts.

Since you should change your filter every 30 to 90 days, you may think once every three months is plenty. However, you may want to change it more frequently, such as once a month. If you smoke in your home, have pets, engage in a dusty hobby, have a large family, or anything else that may cause your air filter to get dirty faster, you should change it more frequently.

Clean Components Regularly

When anything is allowed to get dirty and grimy, it has a higher chance of breaking down. Certain components in your system get dirtier than others. Your outdoor A/C condenser unit, for example, is at the mercy of Mother Nature. Dead leaves, mud splatters, animal droppings, and any other messes should be cleaned as soon as you become aware of them. If nothing like this happens to your unit, clean it annually.

Since they retain moisture, evaporator coils have a tendency to attract dust, which can turn into a sticky goo after time. Check your coil each time you change your air filter and clean it as necessary or once a year, whichever comes first.

Clear Clogged Lines

The condensation drain line on your unit removes the excess moisture that builds up on your evaporator coil. On occasion, this line can get clogged or develop mold and mildew in it. Inspect your line once a month or whenever you change your air filter.

If you notice mold or mildew, clean your line by passing a solution of warm water and bleach through it. If you can prevent mold and mildew from taking hold, you will reduce the chances of your line getting clogged.

When's the last time your system had a thorough inspection? If it's been more than a year, contact Parks Davis Air Conditioning & Heating to make an appointment. In the meantime, keep following your HVAC maintenance plan and look over your system yourself to see if you can see any potential issues. Your HVAC system will thank you for it.