Spring is here and you know the use of your HVAC unit will go up as compared to that in winter. Spring cleaning is a ritual in many households, where people start getting their house ready for the new season. HVAC maintenance should be a priority on your to-do list before spring. The following tips will ensure you stay comfortable through the warm seasons and even reduce your energy consumption and costs.
Servicing and Preventative Maintenance
Air conditioners are generously used for long periods of time during warm/hot days, and they are subjected to frequent stops and starts. If the system isn’t maintained properly, its performance and efficiency will be affected. Seasonal inspections are a must to detect and prevent the HVAC unit from damage. Preventive maintenance helps in extending the service life of your AC since a well-maintained air conditioner offers up to 25% better efficiency than a neglected system, promoting lower operating costs as well.
Cleaning The Compressor
Compressor does some heavy-duty work, which is why it’s important to keep it clean. The long and cold months of winter will accumulate dry leave, debris, dead bugs etc. around the outdoor part of the HVAC system. Some of this may find its way inside the system as well. As soon as spring starts, vacuum the debris and clean the compressor thoroughly to maximize its performance.
Use Programmable Thermostats
Programmable thermostats help in keeping the energy bills lower. With these, you can schedule when to raise/lower the temperature and by how much when you can’t directly control it, like being away from home or while sleeping. These thermostats reduce your energy bill by 10% and a Wi-Fi enabled thermostat allows you to program and control it through smart and mobile devices.
Vacuuming All Around The Thermostat
If dust gets accumulated around the thermostat, you won’t be able to set the exact parameters that you want. Use a vacuum cleaner to remove every last trace of the dust and other particles that can clog the thermostat, such as pet hair etc. Regularly clean the dust build-up on and around the unit.
Cleaning or Changing the Filter
A clogged filter in your AC unit tremendously drains the energy and runs up a huge electric bill without providing the desired comfort levels. Just replacing a clogged filter with a new one can reduce your consumption by almost 5-15%. If you have reusable filters, make sure you clean them frequently.
Incorporating Green Home Improvements
Depending entirely on AC for cooling can prove to be expensive in the long run. Make a few changes around the house to minimize the use of AC. Use ceiling fans as they can make the room 5 degrees cooler, without costing you much. Control the amount of direct sunlight entering the house using shades, drapes or even planting trees in a strategic manner outside the house. These techniques will prevent your house getting warmer, thus minimizing the use of AC.
Seal And Insulate All The Ducts
Leaky ducts and airways are known for wasting energy and reducing energy efficiency by almost 25%. By sealing and insulating all the cracks and tears in the ducts will eliminate leakage and significantly boost the HVAC’s efficiency and performance.
Call A Professional
Professionals will address every single detail that comes will servicing the HVAC unit – like cleaning the compressors and coil, sealing the ducts, lubricating the moving parts, furnace repair, testing the airflow, handling refrigerant problems, heating repairs etc. in a quick and efficient manner. You might end up missing some important aspect if you try to do it on your own.
A well functioning HVAC unit ensures that you don’t get any surprises in summer that might prove expensive to fix. A strong maintenance plan is critical to reduce the energy being used and cutting down the electric bill.
About the author: Dan McKee heads up the marketing efforts and provides digital marketing strategies to the marketing team at Service Champions, HVAC service providers in California. For additional information, visit servicechampions.net.
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