As the New Year dawns, many of us have engaged in the age-old tradition of setting New Year’s resolutions to improve different aspects of our lives. As your local HVAC company, we are here to remind you to extend this practice to the maintenance of your HVAC system. After all, it’s an essential component of your home, affecting not only your comfort but also your energy bills. This year, make a pledge to better your HVAC habits with simple maintenance tips by taking care of often overlooked HVAC components like your air filters, vents, and ceiling fans. By enforcing these simple practices, you can help guarantee you head into the new year with a solid maintenance routine that will keep your HVAC system healthy and running at its highest capacity. Allow your experts at Beavercreek Heating & Cooling to guide you through eight practical ways to improve your HVAC habits. Feel free to sit back, enjoy a cup of coffee, and let us provide you with the following tips.
1. Change Your Air Filters as Recommended: Air Filters are essential components of your HVAC system. They filter out dirt, dust, and other particles from the air in your home. Over time, they become clogged with debris and need to be replaced to maintain optimal airflow and efficiency of your HVAC system. By changing your air filters regularly, you enable your HVAC system to function at its highest capacity and also increase your home’s IAQ (Indoor Air Quality). Typically, we recommend that you replace your air filters every 1-2 months. Keep in mind that every home will be different based on its occupants’ lifestyle and the number/type of pets in the home.
2. Clean Your Vents Regularly: It’s easy to overlook vents in your cleaning routine. There’s always so much to do, like laundry, dishes, yard work, etc. So, if you’ve accidentally missed your vents in the process, we don’t blame you. But bear in mind your vents play a crucial role in your HVAC system. When they are heavily laden with dust, it negatively affects the air quality and efficiency of your HVAC system. So, make sure to include them in your cleaning schedule and dust them regularly. This simple task can have a great impact on the overall performance of your HVAC system.
3. Clean Your Light Fixtures & Ceiling Fans Regularly: Just like your air vents, if your ceiling fans and light fixtures are covered in dust, it can affect the IAQ in your home negatively. Ceiling fans and light fixtures are another part of the home that easily gets overlooked in the daily routine. So, if you want to improve your HVAC habits, don’t be afraid to include this step in your cleaning routine along with your vents. It’s the little steps of improvement, combined with multiple positive habits, that can make a huge impact on your resolutions.
4. Install a Smart Thermostat: Smart thermostats are game-changers when it comes to efficient HVAC system maintenance. They allow you to control your home’s temperature remotely, set schedules, and receive notifications for necessary repairs or maintenance. This technology can significantly reduce energy waste and save you money in the long run. So, if you still need to take the step and make the upgrade, give us a call. There are multiple affordable options available. Plus, if you already have one waiting to be installed, we can do the installation service for you. We’d love to talk!
5. Check Your Attic Insulation: Proper attic insulation is essential for maintaining the temperature in your home. If you notice that some rooms are always colder or warmer than others, it could be due to insufficient attic insulation. If you are able to do so safely, take a peek in your attic and measure the insulation depth. Per industry standards, attic insulation should be a minimum of ten inches deep. So, if yours is any less than this, this year is a great time to get going and lay out a plan to upgrade your attic insulation. It’s never too late to find ways to improve energy efficiency and reduce the workload on your HVAC system.
6. Get Your Ducts Cleaned: Our home’s ductwork is the component of the HVAC system that is responsible for distributing cool or warm air throughout the house. So, if it’s dirty and full of dust, hair, fur, loose particles, and debris, it can significantly affect the efficiency of your HVAC system as well as the IAQ in your house. Luckily, it’s not something that needs to be done very often. Generally, air ducts should be professionally cleaned every three to five years. Again, this number will vary based on your lifestyle, the number of people you have in the home, and pets, if applicable.
7. Clean Your Condenser Regularly: What about your outdoor unit? Located outside, usually in your backyard and sometimes on the side of the house, the condenser is a vital component of your outdoor HVAC system. It releases heat from the refrigerant, allowing your system to cool down. However, due to its outdoor location, if it’s covered in dirt and debris, and the area around it is surrounded with outdoor clutter, it can’t function nearly as efficiently as it’s intended to. So, go ahead and start making it a habit to check the vicinity around your condenser every now and then. Keep it clear of sticks, twigs, loose debris, and outdoor clutter to help prevent any unnecessary malfunctions, breakdowns, or damage to the unit.
8. Stay Up to Date with Your Seasonal Maintenance Checks: Finally, as our last point, let’s talk about those seasonal maintenance checkups you should be scheduling. Once a year in the spring, your AC should have its seasonal maintenance check. The same goes for your furnace at the end of summer and before its first use of the season. Now, we know what you’re thinking. You don’t need these done so often, and they aren’t necessary. But that couldn’t be further from the truth. Although you may not be experiencing any issues with either of your units at the moment, they still need proper care and attention. This is the best form of preventative maintenance you can give to your HVAC system. When you wait for “something to come up” before scheduling an appointment with a technician, you risk the long-term damage an overlooked issue may have caused. Plus, your manufacturer’s warranty also gets voided if you do not keep up with your maintenance checks.
In conclusion, incorporating these HVAC resolutions into your New Year’s goals will aid immensely in keeping your HVAC system in top condition, saving you money, and providing you with a comfortable home all year round. Remember, proper maintenance is critical to extending the lifespan of your HVAC system and avoiding unexpected breakdowns or high energy bills.
We’re here for you ALL year long! Call Beavercreek Heating & Cooling for all your HVAC needs anytime at (937) 708-8527, or schedule an appointment online now by clicking here!
