As a homeowner, you likely have an HVAC system to help keep your house at a comfortable temperature throughout the year. To ensure that your equipment stays in great working condition, it needs to receive regular maintenance from a licensed professional. We’re going to share with you our best recommendations for how often your system should receive maintenance below.
Cooling and Heating Systems
There are many different types of HVAC systems on the market today. Most homeowners will actually have two different HVAC systems in their homes. One will be an air conditioner for cooling your house during the summer months, and the other will be a heating system to heat your home during the cold winter months.
It’s also important to note that some houses may have a single HVAC system that’s responsible for both heating and cooling, such as a heat pump. The type of system or systems that you have will impact how often you need to schedule professional maintenance.
Air Conditioning Maintenance
If you have a centralized air conditioning system, then it needs to receive maintenance at least once a year. It’s typically best to schedule this maintenance in the early spring months before you need to rely on your cooling system. You should always contact a licensed air conditioning professional to perform the maintenance for you.
Aside from checking to ensure that your unit is operating efficiently, a licensed HVAC technician will be able to adequately clean your entire system. They’ll be able to alert you to any issues while they’re small so that they can be addressed before you need to be using your air conditioning system every day during the hot summer months.
Heating System Maintenance
The most common heating system utilized throughout the country is a furnace. A furnace needs to undergo maintenance by a professional at least once a year. You should be scheduling this maintenance service for the early fall months before you need to start using your heating system on a consistent basis.
When a professional comes out, they’ll be able to deep clean your equipment and inspect it for any damage. They’ll ensure that it’s working as efficiently and safely as possible. It’s also crucial to note that many heating system manufacturers will require that your system undergo maintenance at least once a year by a licensed professional in order to keep your warranty active.
Heat Pumps
If you rely on a heat pump to both heat up and cool your home, then you can typically get away with having service on your equipment only once a year. Your technician will look over the entire unit, inspect your ducting, and diagnose any issues that your system may have.
Homeowner Maintenance
In addition to professional maintenance, both heating and cooling systems should undergo regular filter changes every couple of months. Most HVAC professionals will recommend evaluating your filter every month, as some homes may need to replace their filters more often than others. A good rule of thumb is to replace your air filter whenever you’re no longer able to see through it.
It’s also necessary that you pay particular attention to the areas around your outdoor compressor unit for your air conditioning system and your indoor furnace area. Both of these spaces should be cleared of debris to ensure optimal efficiency and safety while your systems are running.
In the early fall months, you should make it a habit to evaluate the area around your furnace and move any items that have accumulated near it. It’s not uncommon for homeowners to stack items near their furnaces during the warmer months of the year when they know they’re not using it. However, this could create a real fire hazard when your furnace kicks on during the colder months of the year.
In the early spring months, you should assess your outdoor compressor unit. Any low-hanging branches or shrubs that are growing near the unit should be trimmed back. You want at least a good three feet of space around the unit to ensure that it can operate adequately. Additionally, make it a habit during the summer months to evaluate your outdoor unit every couple of weeks and after every storm to remove unwanted debris that ends up against it.
Reliable HVAC Services
Putnam Mechanical offers reliable HVAC services for the entire Mooresville, NC area. We can also help with all of your commercial, geothermal, and electrical needs. Contact our office today to get one of our technicians out to your home.
