The secret to improving the performance and longevity of your HVAC system is facilitating adequate airflow. When airflow is restricted in one way or the other, it can cause major problems within your system. For instance, you’ll experience dust and allergens settling in your living space, which is unhealthy. Also, you’ll make the appliance work much harder, leading to high energy bills. If you want to keep your HVAC system working effectively, you need to keep your system clean. When your HVAC unit is dirty, it affects the overall performance of your HVAC system, and it affects the overall quality of your air. To prevent these events from happening, here are a few important tips you can use to improve airflow and make your HVAC system as efficient as possible.
Schedule Regular Maintenance
Preventive maintenance is a good way of keeping your HVAC unit working all through. Suppose you are one of those people who only call a technician if their unit is broken, know that you are doing an injustice to your HVAC system. Instead, you should schedule a regular appointment with HVAC contractors whether the system is working or not. These contractors will perform regular tune-ups, refill the refrigerant and inspect other issues that may limit airflow during its peak use.
Remove Blockages Around the Condenser
HVAC condenser is an outdoor unit that helps facilitate heat exchange between the external environment and your home’s interior. To work efficiently as possible, your condenser unit should be placed far from any obstruction to allow it to breathe freely. This is especially important if you have ducted air conditioning, clearing obstructions such as tall grass or debris near the condenser improves its efficiency and functionality. Make sure to rely on a professional to regularly maintain your ducted system to prevent irreparable damage. Routine care will drastically improve your system’s lifespan.
For ducted systems, your air ducts do not need to be cleaned on an annual basis. Air duct cleaning is a task that needs to be done about twice a decade for most homes. If someone in your home suffers from allergies, asthma, or other respiratory conditions, you may want to clean your air ducts three or four times over a decade of time.
When you hire a professional team to clean your air ducts, it doesn’t really take that long. Depending on the size of your home, it could take a couple of hours or half a day if you have a larger home. A larger, sprawling home may take an entire day to clean the air ducts. Speak with a professional to determine how long it will take to have your system serviced.
Always Ensure the Thermostat Is Functional
The thermostat is the brain of your HVAC system. Since it coordinates the cooling and heating functions, the thermostat allows you to manage the temperature inside your home. A faulty thermostat can significantly affect the airflow of your HVAC. Therefore, if your system isn’t blowing hot/cold air, then you can check the temperature settings and calibrations. For battery-powered thermostats, be sure to check the batteries. If you still notice poor airflow in the system, then contact a professional technician for assistance.
Check Your Filters Often
Air filters are important components of the HVAC system. They help trap dust, pollen, and other small particles from flowing through the system. With frequent use, these impurities can cause clogging and blockages, hence restricting the free flow of air. Therefore, it’s good practice to check your filters often for possible clogging. If you notice light can’t pass through the filters, it’s time to have them changed. If there is minimal residue on your filters, you can simply rinse them off with clean water.
Consider Maintenance Costs
Professional air condition maintenance costs usually depend on how extensive the maintenance will be. Be skeptical of any company that claims they will clean your air ducts for under a hundred dollars; there are probably extra fees hidden in the fine print of that deal. Usually, the price for cleaning your air ducts is based on the square footage of your home. The bigger your home, the more it will cost to clean your air ducts. Keep in mind, though, that is a process that only needs to be repeated about once every five years, so your investment will go a long way.
Know how It Impacts Your Home
If you sign up for an entire system cleaning, you should not be left with any dirt blowing out of your system and into your house when the cleaning job is done. Professional air duct operations are able to clean your entire air duct system without getting your home dirty in the process.
Maintenance is a process that should be done when necessary, only takes a couple of hours to accomplish, will help your HVAC system work more effectively, and will ensure that the air that comes out of your HVAC system is as clean as possible. It is something every responsible homeowner should do.
Ensuring proper airflow in your HVAC system is one of the best ways to maintain its efficiency and longevity. While there are many tips you can use to improve the airflow of your system, the above-mentioned ones are some of the most common. However, if you suspect your unit to have a bigger problem, don’t hesitate to contact an HVAC technician for a professional opinion.