After a long, scorching summer, your heater system needs to be properly maintained to ensure it continues to run efficiency for you and your family this autumn. Without proper, regular maintenance, your heating system could suffer from preventable, costly repairs down the road. Read on for four tips to keep your heating unit running efficiently all season long.
#1) Clean Your Vents and Outdoor Unit
Contaminants are brought into your home through a multitude of entry points, including your outdoor unit. These contaminants build up in your vents and can cause your family to begin to sneeze and cough more, especially after a high pollen season.
To clean your outdoor HVAC unit, use your hose to spray off any debris. Then, spray the unit with a coil cleaner. You can purchase this at most hardware stores. After 15 or so minutes, the coil cleaner will dissolve the dirt off of your HVAC system. At this point, you can rinse your system off with a hose.
To clean your ducts, you can use a vacuum to clean our any additional dirt or dust that has built up in your system. However, for the best results, schedule a visit from one of our NATE certified technicians for a professional, deep vent and duct cleaning.
#2) Ensure Your Thermostat Is Reading the Proper Temperature
Your thermostat should provide you with an accurate reading about the temperature in your house. However, it is possible your thermostat may not be accurate if your HVAC system is not operating at maximum capacity.
If you suspect your home is cooler or warmer than it should be, pick up a thermometer from a local hardware store. Measure the temperature in the room and see if both the thermometer and your thermostat are reading the same temperature. If there is a discrepancy, give us a call immediately so we can service your HVAC system.
#3) Check Your Condensate Drain Line
Your condensate drain line plays a large part in the heater efficiency of your HVAC system. It’s important to check your condensate drain line regularly to ensure no dirt or debris is building up in the line. If anything builds up, a clog will occur. When a clog occurs, the buildup of water may cause damage to your drywall or floors.
For a DIY preventative solution, pour a cup of vinegar down the line at least once every season. However, if a clog is already present, you can try to remove the debris with a shop-vac vacuum. Before attaching it to the pipe, wrap cloth around the connection. Then, turn on the vacuum for 6-10 seconds. Any debris should be removed during that time. Once the debris is removed, be sure to mark on your calendar when you should be re-enacting the DIY preventive vinegar method.
#4) Change Your Air Filters
To maintain your heater system’s efficiency, you must regularly change your air filters. If you leave dirty filters in your vents, you could cause your system to work hard to blow out cold air. Your filters should be changed at least every 30 days. If you have multiple pets, you may need to change them every 21 days to keep up with the additional pet dander.
Your air filters are your first line of defense for keeping the air clean in your home. If you feel your air isn’t as fresh as it should be even with changing your filters once a month, it’s best to schedule a duct cleaning to improve your indoor air quality.
Your Local HVAC Company
The best way to prevent a costly repair or full system replacement is to keep your HVAC system properly maintained. Along with the four tips we provided, it’s in your best interest to have one of our qualified, certified technicians look at your HVAC unit regularly to ensure there are no small issues that have yet to be discovered. We want to ensure you stay comfortable all year long. Contact us today to learn about our maintenance agreements.
