Older HVAC System? 3 Simple Things You Can Do To Keep It Running

You know that nothing lasts forever, and HVAC systems can last on average 10 to 20 years depending upon how much strain your climate puts on the components. While you know that a replacement is inevitable, you still hope to squeeze out another couple of seasons before you have to go brand new. Fortunately, a little maintenance goes a long ways toward keeping air conditioning units in good shape, so use these three strategies to do your part for keeping it chugging along for another year.

Change The Filters

This is one part of your home maintenance that you should never skip, yet people often overlook it since a working air conditioner is easy to take for granted. Your system's filters should be changed as often as the manufacturer's directions recommend. For most systems, this should be done on a monthly basis, and it is important to use the correct filters for your vents.

Keep The Outdoor Unit Clean

You can do your part with the HVAC maintenance outside by making sure that grass does not grow too tall around the outdoor unit. You will also want to keep it free of debris, so clean the fins with a strong spray from a water hose. Alternatively, you can use a special fin cleaning spray to keep the air flow running smoothly to the fan. After shutting off the power, you can also lift the cage of your outdoor unit to fully remove any leaves and sticks that may have fallen between the grates.

Schedule Seasonal Maintenance

There are some parts of indoor HVAC units that get complicated to clean yourself. When you call for seasonal maintenance, your technician will do things such as clean your evaporator coil and unclog the drain so that your unit can run smoothly. They will also check for worn out components such as belts and bearings that could cause your unit to freeze up. Since most HVAC problems are correctable when they are caught early, having a seasonal inspection can make the difference between having to schedule for repairs or replace the whole unit.

You don't have to be a handyman to do some of the simplest parts of keeping your unit running. Yet, it does help to partner with a pro at the start of each season so that they can hit the spots that you don't know how to fix. By focusing on taking this dual approach, you can hopefully make it through another season with cool air from your unit.


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