Walking into a cool house after a long day in the hot sun can be very relaxing. Your job as a homeowner is to keep the HVAC unit that supplies this cool air functional. While this might sound like a relatively straightforward and easy job, it is anything but.
Homeowners in the United States spend billions of dollars on new HVAC equipment every year. Whether your unit is brand new or a few years old, you need to work on keeping it maintained. Here are some things you can do to keep your HVAC unit in good working condition.
Keep your condensate drain line clean
If you are serious about AC maintenance, then you need to realize the importance of cleaning your condensate drain line. As air is cooled down by your HVAC unit, lots of moisture will be created. It is the job of the condensate drain line to remove this moisture from the inside of your home. When this component is working well, you will not have to worry about excess moisture coming out of your vents.
Over time, dirt and small insects can clog up your condensate drain line. When these clogs occur, all of the moisture in the line will be forced back into your home. This is why using bleach and warm water to flush this drain line a few times a year is a wise move.
Inspect your ducts
One of the most important parts of your HVAC system is the ductwork. This part of your system is designed to filter the air heated or cooled by the HVAC unit into the various rooms of your home. As time goes by, the tape used to attach duct pipe to vent returns will start to wear out. The leaks created by this tape issue can lead to a lot of energy getting wasted.
Taking the time to inspect your ducts is a great way to discover these problems early on. Once you notice these issues, you need to contact a professional to fix them.
Clean the outdoor portion of your unit
If the outdoor portion of your unit is covered in leaves and dirt, it will be unable to function properly. Dirt and leaves will restrict the airflow your unit needs to thrive. Instead of dealing with the damage, this can cause, you need to work on cleaning this portion of your unit a few times every year. If you don’t have the time or the experience needed to handle this job, then hiring professionals to help out is imperative.
Get your refrigerant levels checked
Keeping a steady supply of cool air in your home will require the right levels of refrigerant. As time goes by, refrigerant leaks can develop. Hiring professionals to perform routine maintenance can help you find out about refrigerant issues early on. If refrigerant levels are low, these professionals can figure out why. Once they have this information, a technician can fix your refrigerant leaks.
Final words
By implementing these tips, you can keep your HVAC unit running efficiently.
