From paying the mortgage on time to ensuring everything in the house is working properly, being a homeowner entails plenty of responsibilities. In the same list of responsibilities comes the maintenance of HVAC and air purifier. The HVAC system is in charge of keeping your home at a suitable temperature. It also partly holds the responsibility for ensuring good air quality as well as energy efficiency. A significant proportion of HVAC maintenance is about taking proactive and preventative measures. It means you’re putting in efforts to prevent future issues. The problems such as leaks, clogging due to dust and debris, corrosion, and issues relating to air circulation are just a few on the long list. And because anything from clogged, dirty air filters to filthy coils can cause an issue, it’s critical to keep up with your maintenance activities year after year. Having a specific plan for servicing an HVAC system is the best way to proceed. So today, we’ll discuss the basics of HVAC maintenance, including what you should do for appropriate maintenance and how frequently you should perform it. It’ll help you to put a plan in place.
Common HVAC Issues
As previously said, your HVAC system might experience a variety of issues, some of which are more prevalent than others. It can be helpful if you already have an understanding of what the issues are. As you plan your schedule for maintenance, keep the following HVAC issues in mind:
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Leaks
Any HVAC connection or drain line has the possibility of leaking. These leaks hamper the working, making it hard for the system to work smoothly. The additional load on the system results in a requirement to change one or multiple components early. Drain pipes, collector boxes, heat exchangers, evaporator drain pans, and refrigerant coils are common places to find leaks. Check for any leaks in your HVAC system if you observe an increase in your electric bills, inadequate or extended cooling, or iced evaporator coils.
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AC unit that isn’t working properly
One of the common HVAC problems includes a broken air conditioner that only blows tepid air. This might be due to a faulty thermostat or low levels of refrigerant.
To remediate the issue, you can:
- Make changes to the thermostat settings if necessary.
- Replace any old thermostat batteries with new ones.
- Clear out any clogged air filters.
If these tips don’t work, you may require to refresh your refrigerant supply.
Touching the largest copper wire is one way to check the refrigerant levels. Your refrigerant levels are up to par if the wire feels wet and chilly; otherwise, you’ll need to refresh it.
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Corrosion
Wires coming into contact with moisture can lead to corrosion. Due to corrosion on wires or terminals of the HVAC unit, the system can get affected and start turning on and off by itself. This may make the system work harder than usual and eventually lead to a full breakdown.
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Dust, Dirt, and Debris
From the air filter system to the electric panel, each and every component of the HVAC system must be free of any dirt or debris. Dirty air filters will blow out the dust, allergens, and other contaminants into your house, lowering the quality of air and flow. In the long term, it can also lead to blocking the HVAC system, in addition to making it perform inefficiently.
Also Read :- Choosing An Ideal Manufacturing Partner To Build Custom OEM Air Filter?
HVAC Maintenance Tasks
How can you maintain your HVAC system until you know what needs to be done? So, here are some of the basic HVAC maintenance tasks that you can perform in order to keep your system in an optimal working state.
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Filters should be changed or cleaned.
Air filter maintenance is a crucial aspect of keeping your HVAC system in good working order. AC filters should be changed or cleaned monthly, especially in the summer when the usage of the AC is high.
When AC filters become too clogged, they might freeze and thaw. If you have pets or live in an area with a lot of traffic, you should consider changing the air filters every three months.
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Drains should be kept clean and clear.
Cleaning the drains helps you get rid of any debris or even mold build-up. This may be done easily with a moist towel. It’s also a good idea to cleanse the drain lines with bleach once a year.
To avoid overflowing, you should also empty any standing water in your drain pan.
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Check the lines and ducts.
It is necessary to inspect the system’s lines on a monthly basis to ensure that there are no leaks or broken pipes.
Air ducts are also crucial since they distribute air around your home. Air ducts that are clean will ensure that you are inhaling only safe, healthy air.
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Clean heat pump and condenser.
For an efficient transfer of heat, it is necessary to clean the condenser coils and fins from time to time. This is because dust and mold on condenser coils can block heat from leaving, reducing the efficiency of your HVAC system.
For cleaning the condenser fins, you can use a brush or comb with fine bristles, but this will take some time, so you need to be patient! Fortunately, this task needs to be done only once a year.
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Clean up your yard.
Although the exterior elements of your HVAC equipment are not as critical as the inner ones, they must be maintained.
To eliminate potential exhaust clogs, clean your yard, ensuring that there are no pebbles, leaves, or twigs near the AC unit and heat pump. This task is crucial at the time of fall and spring.
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Moving components should be inspected and lubricated.
Checking your HVAC system’s fan blades is another crucial task to perform since they allow for adequate air circulation. These should be examined for any breakage or evidence of wear and tear.
Additionally, inspect the motors, pumps, and belts as well to ensure they’re in good operating order. You can also grease these moving components if they’re having trouble moving.
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The water supply should be disconnected.
Disconnect the furnace humidifier’s water supply during the summertime when the atmosphere already supplies adequate humidity. This can help extend the life of your furnace and reduce your utility costs.
Final Words
We hope that our guide on basic HVAC maintenance might assist you in making your home more comfortable. Regular HVAC maintenance aims to keep your system functioning as efficiently as possible for a longer period. So, stay on top of HVAC maintenance, and you’ll be able to avoid a lot of the frequent issues that lead to costly repairs.
