Conduct Routine Maintenance on Your HVAC System
As with most other pieces of household equipment, it pays to carry out regular maintenance checks on all of the HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) equipment in your home. The benefits of properly maintaining these units include lower utility costs, greater comfort for the occupants of the building, and lower service and maintenance costs; in most cases, the HVAC equipment’s effective service life will also be prolonged. Proper HVAC equipment maintenance is also essential to ensuring that the occupants of a building are protected from exposure to issues of poor IAQ (indoor air quality), as well as to ensuring their safety and comfort.
Prepare A Checklist
There are a number of points to bear in mind when it comes to maintaining an HVAC system, and it is useful to prepare a checklist prior to beginning any checks; special attention should be paid to any equipment that is vulnerable to excess corrosion or wear and tear. In the case of central air conditioning systems, any parts of the system that may be located outside the house should be visually checked for damage or a buildup of leaves or other debris regularly, even during those seasons that the system is not in use.
Perform Standard Maintenance
The instructions that come with HVAC equipment from the manufacturer will suggest a number of standard maintenance tasks to be completed at regular intervals throughout the course of the year, and these suggestions should form the basis of your own maintenance plan. Skilled professionals may need to be called in to perform some of the tasks, such as cleaning the boiler and replacing any worn parts, but many tasks can be carried out by the householder, as for the most part they consist of simple inspection and some cleaning and/or simple replacement of externals parts, such as filters.
Boiler Inspection
Boilers, for example, should have a full maintenance performed on them once a year by a qualified HVAC professional, and then be visually checked by the homeowner at least once a month for any problems. With an open system boiler the system water will also need to be chemically tested at regular intervals. The fuel pump will need to be checked every quarter, and will need to be replaced at the first signs that it is not functioning properly. An annual inspection will include checking the motor and repairing or replacing parts as required, and the heat exchange surfaces should be visually inspected for signs of corrosion, damage, or a buildup of debris.
Clean and Replace As Needed
Likewise, fan coils and unit heaters need to be checked monthly for buildup on the filters, and the controls, pumps, and traps need to be cleaned – and replaced, if necessary – every six months. The tension in the fan belt should be checked and the belt inspected for signs of wear, and the cooling and heating coils should be checked to ensure they are operating correctly. The refrigerant system in the central air conditioning unit should ideally be checked once a year for temperature and pressure settings, and these can be adjusted or repaired in line with manufacturer recommendations to ensure continued good performance.
Contact Horizon Services
While all HVAC equipment should be checked by a professional once a year, and an HVAC professional should always be called in to deal with major issues or repairs, you can extend the life of your HVAC system by taking just a few minutes each month to perform a few simple inspection and cleaning duties.
And, if you are ready to install or replace a heater or air conditioner our friendly and experienced team of Comfort Specialists know heating and air conditioning systems inside and out. They’ll take the time to study your home, understand your heating and cooling requirements, show you all of your options and assist you with finding the quality home comfort system that best meets your family’s needs and budget.
