Proper Maintenance of Your HVAC System

The most important thing you can do to keep your heating and cooling system operating correctly is to keep up with the regular maintenance it requires. Regular maintenance of an HVAC system is necessary in order to keep it operating at its most efficient level as well as have a long lifespan.

The most common – and most important – HVAC maintenance that you can perform yourself is the regular changing of the furnace filters. These air filters are easy to replace and make sure that clean air is flowing through the furnace or air conditioner. Furnace filters block dust, dirt and debris from traveling through the furnace and back into your home. Filters are available at any hardware store or even supermarkets and department stores. These filters, depending on brand, can last up to three months. However, in my experience, it is more wise to purchase the cheaper air filters and change replace it every thirty days. The more expensive air filters make airflow difficult, while the cheaper filters block all dust and dirt while allowing a more constant flow of air. Air filters are relatively cheap with the lowest cost being around $1. Some of the more expensive filters are sold for as much as $15. You may need to purchase an expensive air filter if you or someone in your family sufferers from severe allergies. While all air filters block out dust and some allergens, there are filters on the market that are specifically designed to trap even the most minuscule particles to ensure clean, fresh air flowing throughout the home. Call Calgary Furnace cleaning for more information. If you need this type of filter, you need to purchase a HEPA filter.

Another way of performing maintenance on your HVAC system is to use a shop-vac to suck out dirt and debris from the blower wheel, the flue and the motor. If too much debris flows through the blower wheel, it can make it run slowly or seize up. Regular vacuuming of the HVAC system will ensure that the furnace can operate properly and last longer. You should vacuum your HVAC system at least twice per year – once in the fall and again in the spring.

Those are two easy tasks you can do on your own to keep your HVAC system running at maximum efficiency. There are, however, other procedures that can be done to prolong the life of your HVAC unit, but a professional HVAC service technician should only perform them. Like a car, an HVAC system will need a periodic tune up. A tune up requires the power to be shut off and the burners cleaned. Also, a professional will check all of the controls to make sure they are operating correctly and the wiring is safe. The service technician will check for leaks and make sure other potential hazards are remedied.

If you properly maintain your furnace by regularly replacing the furnace filter and vacuuming the blower wheel, as well as hire an HVAC service technician to inspect your unit annually, your HVAC system will last many years while operating at its maximum energy efficiency.