The HVAC system is likely to be one of the most expensive components within your home. This means investing in a HVAC system is a major capital expenditure which requires time, assessment and deliberations before the purchase decision is made. As it is with any expensive item, care must be taken to ensure it serves you for a long period of time so that you can get value for your money. The same case applies to HVAC systems. There are procedures which if followed religiously can guarantee your system a long lifespan which not only saves you money in repairs and minor replacements but also in lowered energy bills. Discussed below are some invaluable tips that can help you lengthen the lifespan of your HVAC system.
Cleaning or Replacing the Air Filter
Within the entire HVAC system, there is nothing that shortens the lifespan of the unit faster than a dirty air filter. Technically, a dirty filter slows down the airflow into the air handler within your HVAC unit. This in turn makes the unit run longer in order to reach the thermostat setting. This drives up your energy consumption. The recommended period of filter inspection is monthly and when found dirty, it should be replaced or cleaned depending on the type of filter installed.
Cleaning the Outdoor Condenser Unit
A clean condenser is important to the optimal performance of your HVAC system. The condenser requires uninterrupted airflow from all sides of the unit to enable the refrigerant flowing from inside your home to cool down and dissipate the heat to the environment. When the airflow is disrupted either by vegetation or debris, the condensing coil may not work as expected and this slows down the heat dissipation process making your unit run double or thrice triple times harder. With a light spray and a soft brush, you can easily clean the coils.
Fixing a Leaking Ductwork
Some homeowners believe that closing off rooms they don’t use will help extend the lifespan of their HVAC unit. However, this is not true and may in fact be a disadvantage because closing off the rooms can create air pressure that works against the ductwork and air handler. If your ductwork system is leaking, it can drain the overall HVAC unit leading to raised energy consumption. Fixing the ductwork can help extend the lifespan of your unit.
Annual Maintenance
If you are tired of frequent HVAC breakdowns and expensive repair undertakings, the best way to get out of this cyclical trap is to have an annual service maintenance plan. The beauty with such a plan is that it guarantees you of periodic inspections even if your system has not broken down. This is important because any teething problems can be handled before they graduate into major issues. You will be guaranteed of system cleaning, tune ups, adjustments and any other operations necessary to bring it to its original running condition.
If you mind the investment you made in your system, none of these tips should prove too hard for you to consider.