Like all installations, HVAC systems must undergo routine care and maintenance. If you do not maintain and clean the HVAC system, it will become less efficient, and eventually, the system will stop working altogether. When this happens, you will have to install a replacement for your heating or cooling system. By having your system maintained on a regular basis, you can count on your HVAC system, delivering consistently good performance for a very long time.
Your HVAC system enables your home or commercial building to be clean and comfortable. It will recycle stale air and maintain the temperature in the building at a constant temperature, no matter whether the temperature is hot or cold outside. It is necessary to spend time and money maintaining your HVAC system properly because it is such a critical component of a home or commercial building.
To ensure that your HVAC system works properly, you should hire a professional technician to service the system regularly. You can obtain an annual HVAC maintenance contract at a reasonable price. Here are the tasks a professional technician should do when servicing your HVAC system:
1. Check And Change The Filters
Filters can get clogged and dirty quite easily, especially if the environment is very dusty. The filters in the HVAC system keep the air clean by trapping dust, germs, and other airborne particles. If the filters are not cleaned or replaced with new filters on a regular basis, the performance of the HVAC system will suffer. The cooling and heating functions will become less efficient, and the quality of the indoor air will decline. An important part of maintaining the HVAC system is checking and changing the filters regularly.
2. Inspect The System Visually
You should have a professional visually inspect the HVAC system every year to ensure that every component is working properly. This is an important part of maintaining an HVAC system. If you neglect having the system inspected, it can fail in the middle of winter. This can be a disaster for you, as you will have to find other sources of heat until the system can be fixed. Having regular inspections and maintenance keeps the system in good shape and helps it to last longer.
3. Clean And Remove Dirt
The air filters are not the only components affected by dust and dirt. Other moving parts can also be covered with dust and debris, including condensing units, blowers, and various moving parts. When too much debris collects on vital parts of the HVAC system, it will cause damage. A trained professional can clean the dust and debris carefully to ensure there is no damage to internal systems.
4. Check the Condensate Drain
It is very important that the condensate drain of the air conditioning unit and heat pump are free of debris and clogs. A clog can block the flow of water that has condensed and will cause the accumulation of moisture in the system. This excess moisture can lead to other problems, including uneven temperatures in various parts of the property, property damage due to water leaks, poor air quality, the spread of bacteria and mold, and high levels of humidity indoors. A trained professional will clean and flush the condensate drain and ensure that excess water can flow out freely.
5. Check Thermostat Settings
HVAC systems usually have a programmable thermostat, so homeowners can create a schedule to control temperatures. As an example, you can lower the thermostat when you are not home so that the system does not work harder than necessary. The technician will check how well the thermostat is functioning to ensure the device measures temperature accurately. If there is a discrepancy between the actual temperature and the thermostat setting, the technician must check the performance of the thermostat and the functioning of the entire system.
6. Check Electrical Connections
A lot of people are not aware that HVAC electrical connections may loosen or break altogether as they get older. This can hurt the performance of the entire system, and it can become so damaged that you will have to replace the furnace or air conditioner. Your maintenance professional will check the electrical connections and evaluate the entire system. They will look to see if any of the wires have become damaged or frayed and will replace them to reduce the risk that the system could catch fire or that a component might fail.
7. Lubricate The Moving Parts
There are many moving parts in the HVAC compressors and furnaces. These parts need regular lubrication to reduce friction and wear and tear. The professional technicians will clean all moving parts of the system and lubricate them properly to reduce friction. This process should be done on a regular basis to prevent damage to the HVAC system.
8. Inspect Exhaust Outlets
The exhaust outlets in an HVAC system prevent the buildup of gases such as carbon monoxide by allowing dangerous gas to escape from your property. If these outlets become clogged, dangerous gases can build up and endanger your safety. The technician will check all exhaust outlets, including the vent stack and chimney flue. They will check for signs of leaks, corrosion, or backdraft, and will fix the problems during the maintenance call.
9. Check Connections And Fuel Lines
It is very important that gas fuel lines to the furnace get checked regularly. Leaking fuel such as natural gas can be very dangerous as it creates a fire hazard. A disconnected fuel line will affect the efficiency of the heating system. The system will also become less efficient if there is a build-up of soot in the burners or if a heat exchanger has cracks. The technicians can assess all these potential problems and carefully remove clogs and soot.
10. Check Levels Of Refrigerant
Your air conditioning system needs to have the proper amount of refrigerant in order to cool the air. If the level of refrigerant is too low, the compressor must work harder to reach the temperature desired. This can damage the entire air conditioning system and may mean you will eventually have to have it replaced.
