Costly HVAC Repairs Can be Prevented with These Tips

Would you rather pay a lot of money or a little? It’s a no-brainer! And when you consider that you can reduce the necessity to pay out larger amounts of money for expensive HVAC repairs simply by putting in few hours on a regular basis, it’s quite compelling.

Here are some items that you need to include on your to-do list:

Filter Cleaning and Changing

Every month inspect your air filter for wear and tear. If it is damaged, replace immediately.

If you think you can get away with another month or so, do take a few minutes to clean it will a damp sponge.

Gathering dust and debris will make it harder for that cool air to reach you during the summer.

When you need to replace the filter (at least once a season) pop out the old one and bring it to the store with you.

Take time to determine the available filter’s MERV ratings, which determine the level of contaminants that can permeate the filter and enter your home.

The higher the rating, the more efficient is it. The more efficient it is, the more that you can expect to save on your energy costs.

Don’t Forget the Tune-Up

If you aren’t in the habit of scheduling a professional tune-up on a regular basis, you should start.

It’s inexpensive and is a great investment for your HVAC’s future.

During a tune-up, the technician will clean and inspect all parts for damage, alerting you to smaller problems and giving you the option to fix them when they are much more cost-friendly.

This also helps with cost savings by making your HVAC as energy efficient as it can be.

The technician will also look at the ducts around the unit to make sure that they are airtight. You don’t want the HVAC to have to overwork itself.

Clean Debris

Head outdoors to the condenser unit. Pick a day when it is at least 60°F because you need to be at least that warm to test the A/C properly.

Turn the power off and remove the cage fan on the top and wipe it down.

Get out your wet dry vac and vacuum around the interior of the unit (it may be hard to get at some of the spaces).

Make very sure that the unit is level. If it isn’t, put a concrete slab or adequate gravel underneath to level it out.