With proper maintenance, your home’s heating and cooling systems should give you many years of service. Preventive maintenance will lower your energy costs, prevent costly repairs, and prolong the life of your systems.
Regular maintenance will ensure your system is ready to heat and cool your home when needed. Most heating and cooling systems should be serviced once a year by a professional heating or cooling contractor.
The professional contractor has the tools, instruments, and training to maintain your system for dependable, trouble-free operation. The contractor should inspect your systems, including the thermostat, the blower motor, fans, and the ductwork, as well as the AC condenser and evaporator units, and the furnace’s gas connections and heat exchanger. He should also complete necessary maintenance tasks and adjust the system for optimal performance.
Here are some things that you can do:
Filters: Inspect air filters and clean or replace them as necessary.
Registers: Reduce dust in your home by vacuuming heat registers and the cold-air return as part of your regular cleaning.
Ducts: Examine exposed supply ducts for gaps or leaks allowing heated air to escape. Look for gaps and run your hand along exposed supply ducts with the blower running to feel for escaping air. Seal any leaks with duct tape.
Listen: Listen to your condenser, evaporator, and furnace when they are running. If you hear unusual noises, follow the appliance manual’s directions, or consult with your professional heating contractor.
Obstructions: Remove any objects or debris that may have fallen through the registers. Remove any drapes, furniture and other objects blocking registers, interrupting airflow, and lowering your system’s efficiency.
