As a homeowner, you take pride in ensuring you’re caught up with home maintenance as much as possible. And your home comfort is a big part of that. Complete HVAC removals and installations can be pricey, so here’s what you can do to service your equipment on your own.
What is an HVAC system?
An HVAC system involves the equipment responsible for heating, ventilating, and air conditioning your home. Your HVAC system at home is made to be a complete home comfort solution and provide better humidity control and indoor air quality.
A homeowner could purchase many types of HVAC systems, and individual components could include heat pumps, air conditioning units, furnaces, humidifiers, air cleaners, and dehumidifiers.
How to service your HVAC at home: 10 tips
1. Clean your vents and registers
You might already do this, but it’s a step you should be careful not to skip.
If your registers and vents are caked in dust or dirt, the air being pushed in and out of your home will also be dirty. Not to mention, it will cause your equipment to work harder than it needs to, which will impact the lifespan of your system.
Identify where dust and dirt collect the most. This might be the bottom of your vents, the tops of your registers, or anywhere blocked or hidden by furniture. Wipe the areas down and use a vacuum to collect hard-to-reach debris where needed.
2. Regularly clean or change your air filters
Speaking of cleaning, it’s also critical that you keep your air filters as clean as possible.
Your air filters are responsible for removing allergens and large particles from the air before they can reach your indoor air quality sensors. If they aren’t adequately cleaned, the system will have a tough time properly removing the contaminants, impacting your home air quality.
Changing the filter is as easy as swapping the old one out for the new one in your HVAC unit. Cleaning involves using a hand vacuum to remove allergens. You can also use a clean cloth to gently wipe any residual dirt that’s a little more stubborn.
3. Check your ducts for blockages
Duct blockage is one of the most common reasons homeowners experience a sudden issue with their heating and cooling systems.
A blocked duct can cause poor indoor air quality, decreased air flow, and an overworked HVAC system. If you experience any of these issues, check your ducts as soon as possible and clear away anything stuck.
If the blockage is hard to clean or out of reach, contact a professional team for quick removal and to prevent serious problems.
4. Clean the debris off your outdoor units
While making your rounds with cleaning, don’t forget to check your outdoor units. Your outdoor HVAC equipment is much more likely to catch dirt and debris, and keeping it clean means a better lifespan for your system.
The easier your machine can operate, the less energy it uses, meaning it’s better for the environment and your monthly energy bills. Clean your outdoor units by removing the fan grill and wiping the inside. Power off your whole system first, and use a vacuum in the hard-to-reach places.
5. Inspect condensate drain lines for leaks
Your condensate drain lines remove extra moisture from your air conditioners and cooling systems. Over time, these lines can get clogged or spring leaks, which means a headache for you and water damage for your home.
Turn off your HVAC system, locate the drip pan and condensate line, and inspect for visible leaks or blockages. If you have any issues, mold, algae, or debris may be present in the drip pan. Then, attach a wet/dry vacuum to the end of your condensate line. After ensuring a tight seal, turn the vacuum on to suction out any blockages.
6. Make sure your outdoor compressor is shaded in the summer
When it gets hot during the summer, ensure your outdoor compressor, part of your air conditioning unit, is kept safe in the shade. It will help you avoid damage and reduce the unit’s load, which means you avoid a potential breakdown.
Direct heat will also cause your refrigerant to evaporate quickly, which can lead to a mechanical breakdown. So, for consistent air conditioning performance all summer, keep your compressor out of the sun as much as possible.
7. Check your thermostat settings
If you have a programmable thermostat, leverage those settings to optimize your HVAC’s efficiency all year round. Your temperatures should be lower during the winter and when you’re away, and higher in the summer. This reduces your energy bill and consumption.
If you have a smart thermostat, you can even program it based on occupancy or a certain schedule. Only having your HVAC work when it needs to increases the machine’s lifespan and reduces the need for maintenance.
8. Limit your heat gain and loss throughout all seasons
Aside from adjusting your thermostat, use blackout curtains, reflective window film, or thick shades to block out the sun’s heat. In the winter, put a barrier between hot air and your cold surfaces, and block drafts from doors and windows as much as you can.
The more you can reduce heat gain and loss, the less hard your HVAC system needs to work.
9. Use your ceiling fans when it makes sense
Ceiling fans are a cost-effective way to boost your HVAC system efficiency. Set your fans to spin counterclockwise in the warm summer months to create a cooling breeze throughout your rooms. In the winter, reverse the direction of the spin to better circulate the warm air.
Having the fans take on some of the workload from your HVAC system improves the lifespan of your equipment.
10. Schedule an appointment with the pros at least once per year
The most important step in caring for your HVAC system is to continue your yearly maintenance visit from the professionals.
A professional team can inspect all elements of your system more closely, diagnose issues you may miss, and clean more effectively with specialized equipment. It’s a quick in-and-out visit that will save you time, energy, and money down the road.
Call us at Allard & Émond to complete the job
For your routine professional maintenance appointment, contact our team at Allard & Émond. We’ve been trusted in the greater Montreal area for more than 40 years, and will conduct a thorough inspection and ensure your system is running as it should.
We also go beyond just maintenance. If you need equipment installation, repair, removal, or anything else done to improve your home’s comfort, we’re one call away.