The time to think about heating repair is before the cool weather rolls in. It’s easy to ignore the system that provides cozy warmth throughout the winter months, but regular maintenance means that HVAC systems can be kept in top condition, saving the cost of early replacement. A small time investment can pay off in terms of longevity of equipment.
Cleaning
Most systems contain some type of filtration. Regularly checking and changing the filters, especially at the beginning of the season, can help reduce wear on HVAC equipment. If the system relies upon forced hot air, cleaning the vents and pipes is another task that should be carried out at least once a year. It may be beneficial to check with local service providers to ask about regular maintenance programs. Keeping the system and filters clean reduces indoor air pollution as well as increasing the efficiency of the system, providing a healthier environment for homeowners and their families and saving on heating repair.
Draft Checks
Primarily a problem in aging homes, drafts can add thousands each year to the cost of running an HVAC system. A regular check of windows and doors can reveal spaces that allow airflow to pull the heat out of a home. Stopping drafts is a simple fix that can pay big dividends. Most home improvement stores sell kits for sealing gaps in doorframes and windows. A simple test the homeowner can carry out themselves is performed with a coat hanger or dowel and a piece of paper. The paper is simply taped to the dowel or hanger, which acts as a handle. The paper is then held in front of window and door edges. Airflow through the cracks will make the paper move, helping to pinpoint the source of any drafts, which can then be sealed. A reputable heating repair service can also perform a check of the home, to ensure heat loss isn’t driving unnecessary energy costs.
Uncovering Vents
Spring and summer are the most common months for rearranging the furniture in a home. An annual inventory of the placement of furniture in relation to the vents or radiators is necessary to ensure that they are not blocked. Blocked vents can add to heating repair costs because the system has to work harder to push the air into the rooms. They also reduce the overall efficiency of the system, making it more costly to keep the home at a comfortable temperature.
Heating repair doesn’t have to make up a large portion of the family’s overall budget. Prevention is far less costly than replacement, and a regularly cared for system lasts longer and runs more efficiently, saving on energy costs. It’s important for homeowners to follow an annual schedule of checks to ensure the HVAC system is kept running efficiently for as long as possible. For home and business owners who can’t or don’t want to maintain their own systems, most professional services offer a maintenance program that will help keep systems running smoothly for years.