Top 6 Tips For Maintaining Your HVAC System

Owning a home comes with a lot of responsibilities.  You must ensure you pay your monthly mortgages and take care of your home appliances and systems. HVAC maintenance helps prevent future problems like corrosion, leaks, and issues with air and heat circulation.

  Ensure you set a plan that you abide by every year for your HVAC maintenance. However, you cannot handle all HVAC maintenance tasks on your own; hence it is essential to bring in All Day Miami HVAC professionals to help you in your HVAC maintenance.

  1. Clean air condenser and evaporator coils

Molds can quickly grow on the evaporator coils. If there is constant dampness, the coils can attract dust from outside, which is not caught by the filters.  The condenser coils damage fast because of dust if you fail to clean them. Cleaning your condenser coils helps to make your HVAC more energy efficient.

Coils can be challenging to clean if they are soiled with bacteria. You should use a cleaning product with a suitable dwell time to eliminate the bacteria. Even if fungal growth is difficult to clean when built –up, avoid using aggressive cleaners. If you keep your HVAC coils clean from the start, you will spend less time cleaning them during heating and cooling system maintenance. You should clean the coils and evaporators once or twice every year.

  • Inspect bearing, belt, and fan

Even if the bearing, belt, and fan do not directly affect the indoor air quality, you should inspect them as part of your HVAC maintenance routine. Cleaning small fan blades can take you more than one hour, and cleaning large fans with multiple wheels will even take you more hours.

Inspect the fan motors to see if they are running in the wrong direction. Fans can still supply air even if they are running backward. Clear labels on the fan housing, motors, and wires can help to prevent fan motors from flowing back.

Align the belts to prevent wear. Ensure you maintain proper tension as loose belts can slip on the pulley wheels leading to a lack of rotation and quicker wear. Too tight belts can place an extreme load on the shaft and motor causing premature failure.

  • Change filter

A dirty filter is one of the reasons you need HVAC repairs. Changing the filter helps make your HVAC system more energy-efficient, reduces costs of repairing and replacing, and saves energy bills at your home. You should check your filter each month to ensure it is not clogged or dirty. You can clean it to remove the dust and debris. If the filter looks extremely dirty, you should consider replacing it. It is good to change the filters once after three months.

The HVAC filter can freeze if it has too much dirt, causing water damages in your home. If you are using a reusable filter, clean it gently using a soft cloth. Add mild water and soap after cleaning. Buy a new filter if you are not using a reusable filter. Ensure you get a hypoallergenic filter if your family has allergy filters. HEPA filters are the best as they help to purify the air.

  • Keep the outdoor unit clear

The outdoor unit is open to debris and dirt. Also, vegetation growth can cover the outdoor unit, making it fail to function effectively. The grasses can get inside the fan and affect air circulation. You should inspect the environment around the outdoor unit and clear the grasses.  You can do the job as it does not take a lot of time, and you can save on labor costs.

  • Clean the fins

Remove all the HVAC outer covers and use a brush to remove the debris and dirt. Then use a hosepipe to spray through the fins to remove all debris and dirt that might be inside. Avoid using a pressure washer while cleaning the fins as it can damage them. If the fins are very dirty, you should use a commercial cleaning spray found in home improvements stores and follow the manufacturer’s instructions on its use.

  • Call a profession for regular maintenance

It is essential to seek professional help to inspect your HVAC system at least once every year. Look for a licensed professional to perform maintenance procedures such as flushing the coils, examining refrigerant levels, evaluating furnace performance, checking voltage on wires, and checking the drainage system. It is always a good time to call in the professional during the spring and fall.

Bottom line

If you carry out maintenance tasks on your HVAC, you will have fewer repair costs. Also, HVAC maintenance saves on energy bills. You should seek professional services to help you with your HVAC maintenance.