7 Tips From Expert HVAC Contractors in Richmond Hill, GA to Keep Your Unit Runni
Posted by JD Mohler on March 20th, 2019
You keep the oil changed in your vehicle, right? You see your doctor once a year a well. Both of these are examples of preventative maintenance. Just the same, the purpose of HVAC preventative service is to keep your heating and cooling system up and running without any surprise breakdowns. This way, you will be able to heat during the winter and cool during the summer with reliable and efficient service, while operating your HVAC at maximum efficiency. An HVAC contractor in Richmond Hill, GA will tell you exactly what needs to be done, or come out and do any of these himself:
1. Take a look at it once a month. Inspect the insulation on refrigerant lines leading into the building. Notice a problem? Call a HVAC contractor in Richmond Hill, GA to replace some if any if missing or damaged.
2. Do an outside inspection. During your monthly inspections, make sure there’s at least two full feet of clearance around your outdoor air conditioning units and heat pumps. You will also want to make sure the HVAC unit is level.At least once a year, make sure that outdoor HVAC units and heat pumps are on firm and level ground or pads.
3. Clear enough space. If there isn’t two full feet of space, make it! Remove any potentially harmful debris, like leaves, pollen, and twigs. This should be done often during the spring, summer, and fall and from top and sides of outdoor air-conditioning units and heat pumps.
4. Replace the filter. Changing your filter should be done about every 90 days, but check it more often than that to make sure you aren’t going too long in between switching it out. If it looks dark and clogged, go ahead and change it early. Also, get a better filter, not just a new one. The newest high-efficiency pleated filters have an electrostatic charge that works like a magnet to grab the tiniest particles, even those that carry bacteria.
- Reduce your risk for clogs. Once a year, pour a cup of bleach mixed with water down the air-conditioner condensate drain. This will serve to prevent buildup of mold and algae, which can cause a clog.
6. Shut off and turn on the water annually. Turn off the water supply to the furnace humidifier in summer. In the fall, you can replace the humidifier wick filter, set the humidistat to between 35% and 40% relative humidity, and turn the water supply back on.
7. Check your vents to make sure they’re open. Someone may have shut a few vents and it’s causing you a rise in electric bills. Never close more than 20% of your vents, as this places unnecessary strain on your HVAC system.
Your HVAC unit will last a lot longer if you properly take care of it! Preventative maintenance on your HVAC system is something you should take very seriously, whether you want to save money, protect your health, improve efficiency, or prevent a mid-season breakdown. By following these seven simple steps, you can know that you’ll only need scheduled HVAC service and not an emergency repair.
