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 HVAC Issues
Problems with heating and cooling systems can range anywhere from elevated
operating costs due to an older, inefficient system to hazardous malfunctions.
It is important to be familiar with your heating and cooling systems and to
maintain them properly to avoid any dangerous conditions or costly
repairs.
One of the most important things you can do to maintain the efficiency of your
heating and cooling systems as well as the air quality in your home is to make
sure that your ducts and filters are cleaned or replaced regularly.
Duct cleaning takes the expertise of a professional. If
you need to find a duct cleaning service in your area, this link is a good
resource:
http://www.nadca.com/zm2/search1.asp.
It’s a good idea to also clean your registers and vents regularly between your
duct cleaning service’s visits. This can be done easily by cleaning and
removing the registers and then vacuuming out the ducts as far as your vacuum
hose can reach.
There are several easy and inexpensive things you can do yourself to maintain
the efficiency of your heating system. If your heating system is a forced
air furnace, you should clean or change the filter frequently (every 2-3 weeks
during the cold months). If you have a radiator, you will need to “bleed”
it of trapped air that would prevent the water from running through the system
efficiently. You can do this by opening the bleeding valve until water
comes out and then closing it – be careful as the steam and water is very
hot. Be sure to have something handy to catch the water. If you
have a hot water heating system, you’ll need to clean the boiler by opening the
drain valve until the water runs clear. This should be done approximately
once a month.
You should also do some regular maintenance on your cooling system. For
central air conditioners, it’s a good idea to hire a professional service to
give your system a check-up before the hot months begin. This usually
involves a thorough cleaning of the air conditioning unit and a refill of the
coolant if needed. Monthly, you should also check the unit for blockages
and remove any vegetation growing around it that could interfere with its
proper functioning. You should also clean or change the filter and check
the condensate drain at least monthly. For window units, you should clean
or replace the filter at least monthly, bi-weekly during the hottest
months. You should also check the condensate drain to make sure that all
moisture is draining properly.
If your HVAC systems run on natural gas, make sure you know where your gas shut
off valve is in case you need to close it. You should also make sure to
keep an adjustable wrench handy for this purpose. If you ever smell gas,
follow the below steps:
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Evacuate your home.
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Once everyone is safely out of the home, shut off the
gas supply from the external shut off valve (this will be located near your gas
meter).
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Call the utility company or emergency service to
report the leak.
If you would like an expert opinion on the condition
of your HVAC systems, please contact us for quotes.
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