For air quality and safety reasons, homeowners must perform routine HVAC maintenance. All kinds of air conditioners are included here, from indoor ones to outdoor ones and gas-powered furnaces to oil-powered ones.
Regular preventive maintenance extends the lifespan of your HVAC system. Failing to maintain your HVAC system could cause wasteful operation and system failure.
Your heating system and your air conditioning should be inspected during the fall and spring, respectively. However, you can perform some HVAC maintenance tasks on your own and try looking for HVAC Repair San Diego.
How Often Should I Have My Air Conditioner Serviced?
There can be a bit of wiggle room when it comes to servicing your air conditioner: once in the fall and once in the spring. It’s to ensure that it’s clean, that its parts are in good condition, and that it’s working as efficiently as possible.
You can have your HVAC technician handle any significant problems. As soon as they become apparent and before it’s time to switch from heating to cooling or vice versa.
Tune-ups typically include a thorough inspection of the heat exchanger, checking the refrigeration system, cleaning condensate tubes, cleaning condensers, lubricating all moving parts, and replacing filters.
This doesn’t mean that you don’t have to do anything to maintain your air conditioner. It’s a good idea to do so if you are in the USA and looking for HVAC Repair in San Diego and get your unit repaired twice a year.
1. Make sure you change your filters regularly:
Check your HVAC filters regularly even if your HVAC specialist inspects them twice a year during maintenance and tune-ups. HVAC systems usually have three-month pleated filters or 30-day fiberglass filters. Since these filters last so short, it is urgent to check them frequently. You should change them if they are dirty, even if they are early.
A dirty filter makes an HVAC system work harder. Heating and cooling systems use more energy the more they have to work to circulate air. Besides straining the system’s fan, a dirty filter can also make it work harder.
2. Keep your carbon monoxide detector in proper working order:
You’ll need a carbon monoxide detector if you have an oil or natural gas heating system. Make sure you test your carbon monoxide detector once a month. Replace the batteries at least once every six months or when you hear a beep every minute if the unit has replaceable batteries.
In HVAC maintenance, these detectors are essential. This is because if it beeps four times with a pause, that means your HVAC unit is leaking. You should go outside and call the emergency service right away.
It’s critical to keep in mind the average lifespan of a carbon monoxide detector is between five and seven years. Monitors may warn you that they need replacement if they beep five times in a minute.
3. Perform visual inspections during HVAC maintenance:
Ensure nothing appears wrong in your system by performing a visual inspection at least once a year. Ensure that the condensate and evaporator coils aren’t dirty, that the coils aren’t frozen, and there are no leaks.
Observe fins for damage, and listen for strange vibrations and sounds while the unit is running. If anything needs to be fixed, try looking for HVAC Repair San Diego in the USA to repair it soon.
4. Make sure your internal temperature is regulated:
By turning their thermostats back seven to ten degrees for eight hours a day, homeowners can save 10% on their annual heating and cooling bills. As an additional energy-saving measure, you can set your thermostat to 68 degrees in the winter.
You are awake and lower it while you are sleeping. Similarly, keep your thermostat at 78 degrees in the summer when you’re at home and warm when you’re away.
The simplest way to improve your home’s heating and cooling efficiency are to install a programmable or smart thermostat. Maintaining this thermostat technology can be done remotely from a smartphone or tablet. Many smart thermostats can even learn your habits and make energy-saving adjustments automatically without the need to program them.
5. Watch out for your vent covers:
Most central air conditioning systems also use ducts for air circulation. To reach different parts of your home, the air produced by the AC travels through these ducts. Afterward, it is blown by vents mounted on walls or positioned in ceilings and floors.
Make sure that you pay attention to your vents for any sign of mold. This may be due to excess humidity, and you’ll want to deal with that quickly to prevent mold growth. It’s best to have an HVAC technician troubleshoot it for you if you’re not sure what to do.
There won’t be any ducts when you have a mini-split system, just a blower unit instead. To clean or vacuum the filters, remove the cover and remove the filters.
6. Keeping the Condenser Area Clean:
Outside of your home is where your air conditioner’s condenser is located. It’s therefore at risk of falling branches, kicking up stones and dirt, and bushes and all kinds of overgrowth.
Overhanging greenery may fall into condensers, triggering jams and general mechanical damage.
It is possible for critters, such as squirrels, ants, and mice, to chew on electrical wirings or become attracted to water. Creatures can damage your air conditioning unit. If there are any signs of pests, expert maintenance will probably notice them. However, you can also look for them yourself.
Keeping the area around the condenser clear will cut the chance of collateral damage. Ensure there are 5 feet of clearance on each side and that trees and hedges near it are trimmed. This will also discourage animals from entering.
You shouldn’t ignore higher utility bills:
Your HVAC system may be operating less efficiently because it doesn’t receive regular maintenance. But it uses more fuel and increases utility bills. High energy bills may show that the system is not functioning correctly or that it may be time to replace it with an energy-efficient unit.
Look at the age of your HVAC system to determine if it’s time for an upgrade that meets efficiency standards.
Don’t be afraid to call an HVAC professional:
It is possible to take several actions to keep your HVAC system running optimally from season to season, but some limitations are. To ensure the safety of your home, HVAC specialists are trained and follow building codes. HVAC specialists also install electrical components efficiently.
You should hire an HVAC professional if your system continually turns on and off or in short cycles. In addition, if there is excessive noise when you start up the system, you might need to look for HVAC Repair San Diego in the USA.
Finally:
After you have answered the question “how often should I service my air conditioner,” you may realize that you need to schedule a service right away. if you’re looking for HVAC Repair in San Diego in the USA and the surrounding area, get it fixed quickly.
I hope through this post you come to know about HVAC maintenance!
Author Bio (Michael Cabral):
Michael is a marketing manager at EZ Heat and Air. He loves writing about innovative and hybrid HVAC installation tips. His articles help readers to have valuable insights into the importance of duct cleaning, water heater maintenance, and repair, optimum working of the thermostat, Mini-split, and heat pump installation in Orange County. Read articles for more information on keeping your HVAC system in tip-top condition and leading a hassle-free life.
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