Key takeaways
Showing your HVAC system some love can significantly extend its lifespan and improve overall performance. Simple steps like scheduling routine preventive maintenance, regularly changing your air filter, keeping vents and outdoor units clear, and using a smart thermostat all help reduce strain on your system, lower energy costs, and prevent unexpected breakdowns. With consistent care and a few proactive habits, you can keep your HVAC system running efficiently and comfortably for years to come.
Be sure to mark your calendar because February 14th is Valentine’s Day. Yes, it might mean that you need to run out to grab some last-minute chocolates and flowers (we won’t tell on you!). Then again, it can also be used as a point of reflection to show your HVAC system some love. After all, that system works hard to keep you and your family comfortable all throughout the year. Shouldn’t you do what you can to help take care of it? At Harrington Air Conditioning, we believe you should, and we have five ways that you can extend your HVAC system’s life now.
1. Schedule Preventive Maintenance
At the very top of the list is the need to schedule routine preventive maintenance to help extend your HVAC system’s life. Advanced Energy reminds us why this is the number one thing you should start with:
The rated life of your equipment is based on proper routine maintenance. When equipment has no appropriate care, it can fail prematurely, and you may need to replace it unexpectedly. Proper upkeep extends equipment lifespan and indicates when it’s nearing the end of its useful life. This helps in planning for replacements.
In other words, you won’t truly know where you stand in terms of the health of your system until you have the scheduled maintenance that it requires.
2. Change the Air Filter
Here is something that you can do entirely on your own: change the air filter!
The reason this is so important is that your air filter impacts every other component of the HVAC system. However, additional reasons to do so include:
- Improve the quality of the air you breathe
- Lower your energy bills
- Maintain your warranty coverage
- Extend the life of your HVAC system
For these reasons, regularly changing your air filter is a simple yet effective way to extend your HVAC system’s life and ensure you breathe clean air.
3. Allow the Outdoor Unit to Have Some Breathing Room
You should try to position the outdoor unit of your HVAC system in such a way that it is given the room that it requires to operate normally. When you place it too tightly up against your house, it will not function at the highest levels. However, once you give it a little space away from the home, it can start to operate at a higher level. If you notice that it is currently too tight up against your home, simply work on getting it moved to a more suitable location.
4. Keep Vents Clear
When vents are blocked, your system has to put additional strain on itself just to perform the way that it normally would if those vents were not blocked. Bear that in mind as you think about the small things that you can do to help keep your vents clear and performing at their best. This should result in fewer breakdowns for your system and an overall smoother level of operation as a whole. Although this might seem like a small action, keeping vents clear is crucial in helping to extend your HVAC system’s life and ensuring it operates smoothly.
5. Consider Using a Smart Thermostat
The use of a smart thermostat allows you to put the HVAC system on autopilot while you are away from home or when you are asleep. Since this is the majority of the day for most people, it is crucial to consider the heightened value of a smart thermostat and why you ought to consider getting one for your home. It can make a world of difference when it comes to saving on your electric bills and taking the guesswork out of temperature settings.
We Can Help Extend Your HVAC System’s Life Today
At Harrington Air Conditioning, we are here to help. If you want more ideas for how you can show your climate control system the love it deserves, reach out and contact us for more details about how to get the most from your system.
