Posted by Rifat A. on 10/19/2019 to

It is said that prevention is better than cure. This proverb is also applicable to your home's HVAC system. Sometimes, depending on the location, your home heating and cooling units work harder than your automobile. Again, your heating and cooling system is the lung of your house because it keeps your home breathing. Besides, your HVAC system ensures that you're breathing the clean and safe air. Lack of HVAC maintenance can lead to costly repair and can be disastrous. Regular maintenance can also reduce energy bills and save money. So, here are a few tips to prevent costly HVAC repairs –

Top 4 Tips to Prevent Costly HVAC Repair

1. Replace the Air Filter

The dirty air filter is the enemy of your heating and cooling system. The main function of the air filter is to prevent dust, allergens and other floating particles to circulate in your home. That's why the air filter becomes dirty and clogged very often. It is recommended to change the air filter every 1-3 months. If you have a pet or more people living in your house, chances are air filters will get dirty soon. So, change your air filter every 30-90 days and prevent potential damage to your heating and cooling system.

2. Clean your Condenser

The exterior part or the condenser unit is as important as the interior part of the HVAC system. The condenser unit is more exposed to the environment. So, keep the area around the condenser unit as clean as possible. Also, check whether the condenser unit is on the level surface or not. If there is grass, leaves, debris or dust; remove them. There should be around 2-3 feet clearance around outside heat pumps and AC units. So, cut down all the shrubs and the plants by at least 2 feet.

Start cleaning the AC coils from the inside unit to the outside unit. By doing this, you will be able to get rid of sand or dust. Then, finish the cleaning with a gentle spray of water by using your garden hose. Cleaning the condenser unit is important because if dust and small particles get into your heating and cooling system, it can cause major problems and damage the internal parts of the system. This will eventually lead you to a costly repair.

3. Regular Ductwork Inspection

The air ducts can be filled with dust, debris, even insects. This will damage the entire system and require more energy to run. That's why regular duct cleaning is important. It is recommended that you clean your duct every 2-3 years. It will improve the quality of the air and increase the longevity of your HVAC system. Again, if you have leaks in the duct, you should seal the damaged portion of the duct as soon as possible. It will save your money by not leaking the treated air.

4. Monitor your HVAC Unit

Any kind of unusual noise coming out of a machine is a warning. If you hear noise coming out of your AC or HVAC unit, call an HVAC professional for help. Again, if you smell a bad odor coming out of the system, you should be worried and call professional for repair. Also, look for weak airflow, thermostat problem, and, spotty heating or cooling. If you see any kind of these problems, call an HVAC professional to have a look at the problem and fix it.

If you can maintain your heating and cooling system properly, you can reduce repair costs by up to 40%. It will also increase lifespan by 25-30%. Besides, system efficiency will increase by 30%.

See the summary in this infographic – 4 Tips On Preventing Costly HVAC Repairs [Infographic]