Prevent Expensive Repairs by Following These 10 HVAC Maintenance Tips

With the average American spending $2200 a year on utility bills, the last thing you want is to be met with expensive HVAC repairs. You already pay enough for energy!

So, how do you avoid them? By keeping up with HVAC maintenance.

Here’s how you make sure your HVAC stays running smoothly.

1. Get Rid of Clutter Around the Unit

Since the unit is often in a place out of the way, you may be tempted to use that space for storage. It may lead to things crowding the HVAC unit.

One of the best tips for HVAC preventative maintenance is not to do that!

You don’t want dust to collect around the area, as this will lead to it getting into the HVAC system. Not only will this reduce air quality, but it can also pose a safety hazard.

2. Monitor the Temperature

It can be tempting to get into a habit of turning on the unit and leaving it running all day but as your habits change, so should the HVAC unit. If you’re out all day, don’t leave the air conditioning running!

Make sure you actually keep up with when your HVAC unit is working hard and if you’re not home and don’t need it to, then give it a break.

If your HVAC is constantly forced to work hard then it’s going to need repairs sooner.

3. Purchase a Modern Thermostat

If you don’t already have one, a modern thermostat can really help with the above because you can time the HVAC.

That way you can program it to come on right as you leave work, but don’t have to have it running all day to come home to a house at the ideal temperature!

4. Keep an Eye on Energy Bills

When people think of air conditioner maintenance or heating system maintenance, they often assume it to be a technologically challenging job that they can’t do on their own. That leads to them putting it off or not keeping an eye on the system at all.

The truth is, however, there’s a very easy way to keep up with your HVAC maintenance — keeping an eye on your energy bills!

If something is beginning to go wrong with the system, the first place you might see it is on the bills. If the system is forced to work harder than usual, your energy bills are going to spike, and that’s often a telltale sign you need to take a look.

5. Switch Out Air Filters

Switching out your air filters is essential to keeping your HVAC unit in good condition.

Check the size of air filter you need on your unit, whether it’s the common 20x20x1 or something else. You should swap them out when it appears they’re getting dirty or, at the very least, every 90 days.

Keep an eye on it and when in doubt, check it out.

6. Install Fans

Fans are a great way to assist the HVAC and let it put less work into the house. They’re very easy to install and can be hung from any ceiling.

They’ll take hot air coming in from outside and turn it into a pleasant breeze, meaning you may not have to make the HVAC work as hard.

Sometimes it’s just about finding ways to allow your HVAC unit to do less work.

7. Visually Inspect the Unit

Once a month, you should go and look at the actual unit and make sure there aren’t obvious warning signs that it doesn’t take an expert to spot.

For example, ensure that the doors are securely closed, the outdoor unit is level, and that there aren’t any signs of rot or mold around the unit.

Spotting these things early can very much help you avoid an expensive repair later.

8. Maintain Your Carbon Monoxide Detector

It’s very important to have a carbon monoxide detector around. In the event that something goes wrong around the HVAC unit and there’s a dangerous leak, your carbon monoxide detector may be the first thing to let you know — and that’s essential for your safety!

You should always make sure the detector is working and check it frequently. They have a long life span, fortunately.

9. Clean the Outside of the Unit

If your unit collects leaves, dust, and other things, make sure you’re continuously dusting these off.

This is especially important as the seasons change, as your unit may be collecting more than normal.

10. Schedule Maintenance

One of the best things you can do to keep your unit running smoothly is schedule professional maintenance.

At the end of the day, you can keep up with the HVAC unit yourself as best you can, but professionals are trained to spot problems sooner and will be able to advise you on what to do. They can also catch and resolve small problems before they become huge ones that will require an expensive repair.

It’s a good idea to have someone come out at least once a year and the price will be much less than a repair or a total replacement.

HVAC Maintenance Is Essential

Although it’s easy to forget about your HVAC unit, it works hard and it’s important to keep up with HVAC maintenance! If you don’t, you might find that you end up having to deal with an expensive repair or total replacement that could have been avoided if you had kept a better eye on the unit.

Follow these tips and have a professional check it frequently too.

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