When it comes to home maintenance, many people pay more attention to the exterior and interior areas that are used regularly. The central heating system and AC cooling system hardly gets any attention but when it breaks down, a lot of activities in the home come to a standstill. Unless you want to ask for a new boiler quote every few years, you should know how to perform some routine maintenance of your boiler, central heating, and AC systems at home. Here are tips for maintaining your heating and cooling systems:
Keep the outside unit clear
The foliage and shrubbery around your home can often get into your rain gutters and crowd the outside units. To prevent the vegetation from interfering with your system’s airflow, you need to trim any plants that are close to it. Keep vegetation at a distance of at least two feet from the outside unit on all sides.
Check the coils
The coils are responsible for the smooth and efficient running of the heating system and require regular checks to prevent any clogging. It is vital to monitor their condition regularly. Once the coils are clean and unclogged, you will have maximum efficiency. The drainpipes are susceptible to algae and mould growth, which will affect the quality of air in the home. To avoid this, you can use a wet-dry vacuum to suction out any areas that have been clogged. You can also use bleach to clean it as well.
Replace filters often
It is best to change the filters in your AC unit at least once every three months. If you have pets in your home or people in the house who have allergies, you should change the filters more often. When getting filters, look out for the ones that are rated MERV 7-11. This allows the right amount of airflow through the system, allowing your unit to operate optimally. When replacing filters, refer to the manufacturer’s manual for instructions for guidance.
Clean the unit
You must clean both indoor and outdoor air condition units. Please pay attention to the condensing unit; it is prone to clogging due to pollen, dirt, and grime. Be sure to use a water hose to spray the outside unit to clean it. Never use a pressure washer to clean the external unit as you may damage it.
Get professional help
If you cannot do any of the things listed in the points above by yourself, you need professional help. You can closely follow what the professional does the first few times to learn and try it on your own later. Professionals are the best people to do a comprehensive clean of your heating and cooling system. They can check the voltage on motors, assess furnace operations, vacuum blower compartments, look at refrigerant levels and check the drain pan and system.
The proper maintenance of your heating and cooling systems will prolong its lifespan and save you a lot in utility bills. This should be enough impetus to perform regular maintenance checks on these home systems.