- Get it inspected.
To make sure you get the most out of your unit, you should have it inspected a minimum of twice a year. A service technician will examine the entire system, looking at the air filter and replacing it if necessary, examining and cleaning the blower motor, checking out the safety controls and taking a look at the burner and pressure switches. Finally, he will also check out the ductwork to see if there are any leaks.
Your system will not run at peak efficiency if there is loose ductwork, blower motor bearings that are not lubricated, a dirty air filter, or dust on the blower fan blades and condensing coil. Other things that could cause problems are loose blower belts, burners not working properly, a clogged condensate drain, loose wiring or leaking coolant. These are all problems that a technician can take care of.
- Conserve energy.
You also don’t want to overwork your system, which could end up causing you problems down the road, as well as reducing the life of your system.
For example, if it is 100 degrees outside, don’t set the thermostat at 68 in an attempt to cool things off. The system will probably not be able to reach that temperature, but it will work hard continuously to get there.
Also, in the summer, set the temperature as high as you can while still remaining comfortable and in winter, as low as possible while maintaining comfort. This not only will help you to save energy, it will reduce the amount of stress on the system, extending its life.
- Inspect the system yourself.
You don’t have to wait for the technician to do his inspection. You can do a quick check on the system yourself to make sure everything is in good working order.
For example, change the air filter each month. Check the outdoor compressor to make sure it is clear of debris. There should be at least two feet of space around the unit. Also, examine the insulation around the refrigeration lines that run into the house. If you notice that some of it is worn away, you should replace it. And keep the registers open. If you close too many, you make the system work harder.
Inspecting your HVAC unit yourself is a good idea, but you may miss some issues that a Rescue Air and Plumbing technician would find. Make sure all issues are found with a thorough, professional inspection. Contact us at (972) 201-3253 for more information.