Your HVAC systems are indisputably the most important pieces of equipment in your home, especially when it comes to maintaining your comfort levels. It blows warm air during winter and cool air during the scorching months of summer. In other words, your HVAC systems keep you and your family comfortable 365 days a year, 7 days a week.
If you want to keep them working as efficiently as possible, you need to engage in regular HVAC maintenance and understand its importance. By maintaining your HVAC system regularly, you are helping yourself get rid of potential high repair costs or equipment replacement, in extreme cases. Most parts of your HVAC system are basically unseen, but that doesn’t mean they should be neglected or ignored.
Marsh Heating and Air Conditioning is your friendly HVAC company in Edina MN that knows how to properly maintain home comfort systems. Here are some ideas to help you keep your HVAC system in great shape.
Manage your filters.
Your filters play an important part in the overall performance of your HVAC system and the least you can do is to inspect them and replace if necessary. Dirty air filters make your furnace or air conditioner less efficient and cause undue strain on its internal parts.
For worry-free filter maintenance, all you have to do is set a reminder each month to inspect your filter and clean or replace it as needed. The rule of thumb is to change your filter once a month to three months, based on your usage. If you have domestic pets or let your windows often, you should probably change your filters sooner than later.
Also, invest in high-efficiency pleated air filters. The folds in these filters collect more small particles than ordinary filters. They keep your HVAC system clean and protect your family from airborne diseases.
Clean the area surrounding your outdoor unit.
The outdoor HVAC unit should be able to easily draw in air to cool your home. In order to do this, you have to clear any foliage from the surrounding area, including shrubs and plants, which should be planted at least two feet away from the outdoor unit. This provides sufficient shade to keep the unit cool and also controls critters from habituating near the system.
This time of year also means you need to clean out the storm drain. Take away any debris that could block the flow of water from your home.
You may also need to manually inspect the outdoor components of your HVAC system such as the condenser. Look for obvious damage and if something looks unusual, contact an HVAC professional. Do not operate an HVAC system with a damaged condenser, as it can be a critical issue when you need to run your air conditioner.
Clean your registers.
If you want to help your HVAC unit breathe effortlessly, try to keep your registers and ducts free from dirt and debris. Wipe down your registers with a clean cloth as often as possible to keep dust and debris out of your system.
Operate fans.
Fans are an energy-efficient way to keep your home cool without having to make your HVAC system work too hard. Using fans in certain areas of your home can make a huge difference in your home’s overall comfort. Your choices of fan include ceiling fans, desk fans, and tabletop fans. Of the three options, ceiling fans are probably your best choice. Make sure your ceiling fans are set to rotate clockwise in the summer, allowing the air to flow downward, preventing excess heat from rising up to the upper sections of your home. When the temperature begins to cool down, you can do it in reverse by operating your fan in the other direction.
Identify when professional help is needed.
Most HVAC manufacturers require annual preventive maintenance in order to keep the unit’s warranty. Check your warranty to find out if professional maintenance is needed. HVAC professionals are able to check your system for existing and potential problems, so calling one is definitely a wise choice.
Marsh Heating and Air Conditioning is your dependable Minnetonka heating and cooling contractor that has teams of certified, seasoned technicians that are ready to help.