Maintaining a healthy HVAC system is critical to your family’s comfort, health and safety. Without routine maintenance, your HVAC system may have to work harder than it should – leading to higher energy bills.
It is also likely to require repairs more often – or even be replaced sooner than you would like. Follow the tips below to prevent this from happening.
1. Change Your Air Filters Regularly
Your HVAC system’s air filter serves as a first line of defense against the toxins and pollutants in your home, like dust, mold and fungal spores, pet dander, fabric fibers and more. If these particles aren’t trapped in the filter, they will circulate throughout your home and cause health issues for young children and elderly or sick family members. Dirty filters can also increase your energy bill by forcing the system to work harder to push air through.
Changing the filter is an easy task, and should be done monthly. Remove the old filter and dispose of it, then slide in the new filter with arrows pointing away from the return duct and toward the blower mechanism. Write the date on the filter frame to keep track of when it should be changed. Getting into the habit of regularly changing your filter will help you reduce waste and save money in the long run!
2. Schedule Regular Inspections
The best way to keep your HVAC system in great shape is by scheduling regular inspections with a professional. This will help you avoid emergency repairs, as well as extend the life of your system.
Energy Efficiency
A neglected or poorly maintained HVAC system can consume more energy than necessary, leading to higher utility bills each month. During an inspection, a technician can identify areas where the system could improve its efficiency by cleaning or replacing parts, reducing leaks, or adjusting settings.
Better Indoor Air Quality
Dirty air filters, ducts, and other parts of the HVAC system can lead to poor indoor air quality, which poses serious health risks for anyone in your home with allergies or asthma. During a maintenance visit, a technician can check and change the air filters as well as clean and lubricate all moving parts. This can greatly reduce indoor allergens and pollutants, improving air quality for everyone in the home.
3. Maintain Your Thermostat
When your thermostat is properly maintained, it will help you save money on your energy bills. You can also reduce the amount of indoor air pollution in your home by keeping your air filters fresh and by reducing humidity levels.
If you have a programmable thermostat, you can set your system to automatically reduce the temperature when you are sleeping or away from home for a few hours. This can save a lot of money on your energy bills year round.
It’s important to note that you should always think about your home and family’s comfort needs before making any changes to your thermostat settings. Do you have young children, elderly people or pets who are sensitive to changes in temperature? Also, make sure that you’re not decreasing your home’s heating or cooling by more than 10 degrees at a time. Doing so can cause issues like frozen pipes and can lead to expensive repair costs.
4. Install a Carbon Monoxide Detector
Carbon monoxide detectors give you an early warning if dangerous levels of this deadly gas are detected. The colorless, odorless, tasteless gas is produced by fuels that burn incompletely because of insufficient oxygen. Appliances fueled by gas, oil, kerosene, wood, and coal produce CO. Carbon monoxide poisoning is the leading cause of accidental deaths from home heating systems.
If the carbon monoxide alarm sounds, open windows and doors to get fresh air, turn off the furnace, and contact your heating contractor immediately. If symptoms are severe, call 911 and seek prompt medical attention.
Keep detectors on every level of your building, ideally a couple of feet below the ceiling, since carbon monoxide doesn’t rise to the top of rooms. Some models have digital readouts, making them easier to read from eye-level. Test them regularly (when you change the time on your clocks each spring and fall) and replace their batteries as needed. Most manufacturers recommend using sealed unit carbon monoxide detectors, which are tamper-proof and have long lifespans.