How to Care for Your HVAC System During the Heating Season

• Posted on HDNEditor
• in Home Improvement
• on October 7, 2021
• Comments Off on How to Care for Your HVAC System During the Heating Season

Summer is winding down, not just according to the calendar, but also based on the weather in most of the country. Whether we like it or not, it is time to start thinking about heating and how to take the best care of our HVAC systems.

In order to help you in this task, we reached out to heating and cooling experts at Action Air Conditioning, Heating & Solar of San Diego. They shared some tips on keeping the HVAC system in top condition all through the heating season.

Keeping the Vents Clean

If you are experiencing problems with air flow, there are several possible reasons. Before you panic and think that your furnace is malfunctioning, consider other options. Very often, the issue is just dirty vents. When was the last time you actually cleaned the vents? If it’s been more than half a year, perhaps it’s time to get at it.

It is fairly easy and you can do it by yourself, or you can call in HVAC technicians to help you with it. Once you clean the vents, you should feel the difference. Apart from reduced airflow, dirty vents are also ideal breeding grounds for a variety of pathogens, including mold, bacteria and viruses. Cleaning the vents largely eliminates those problems, too.

Unequal Distribution of Heat

If you feel that a part of your home is not getting equal amounts of heat, this is a cause for concern. Don’t shrug it off, but rather investigate. If you have already cleaned the vents, this should no longer happen. If the problem persists, this is an indication of a bigger problem.

More often than not, that problem is a leak in the vent system. If the leak is internal, the heat is dissipated somewhere inside the house, but if it is somewhere connected to the outdoors, you are not only losing heat, you are also making your HVAC system work harder to achieve the same temperature thus shortening its lifespan.

If you can access your vents, you can do a visual inspection. However, if you don’t find anything, it’s a good idea to contact a HVAC technician to inspect it properly, just to be safe.

Clean the Condenser

The outdoor unit is built to be rugged and to withstand quite a bit of the elements. But at times it does need a bit of TLC. Caring for your outdoor unit is relatively easy. All you need to remember is that it is a heat exchanger. That means that it needs space around it to function properly. Make sure that there’s nothing above it or around it.

Another thing you may need to do once a year is clean the condenser coils. The thin metal fins of the condenser are ideally suited to dissipate heat, but the narrow space between them is also a magnet for grime. Dirt, pollen and other debris can stick to the coils making them much less effective at their job. Clean them by spraying them with a garden hose. Don’t use a pressure washer because you may bend the thin metal of the condenser.

Check for Leaks

Your indoor unit is supposed to remain dry. If that is not the case, chances are that there is something wrong. If you notice any kind of moisture or even puddles, this is a sign of a leak. In those situations, you may investigate where the leak is coming from, but you should leave the repairs to professionals.

Even in winter, your home’s central air system is working hard to make your home pleasant to be in. Repay it by taking good care of it.