subject: Regular Maintenance Of Your Hvac System Saves You Big Money Down The Road [print this page] There are many regular maintenance measures that can be performed on HVAC system that will enhance performance and extend their life indefinitely. Local HVAC suppliers have products on-hand to help you do this, but much of it just involves elbow grease. Keeping coils, ducts and any moving parts cleaned and lubed as well as changing filters regularly will work wonders.
HVAC systems that are properly maintained function more efficiently, too. This saves money on wasted power. Following are some recommended actions you can take to improve the performance of your HVAC system.
Keep coils clean: clean evaporator and condenser coils at least once a year. These parts are exposed to outside elements and become very dirty.
Properly maintaining them may improve system performance by up to 16%. Get a cleaner from your local HVAC supply store especially designed for coils and evaporators.
Keep filters clean and changed: filters are relatively cheap and easy to replace. You will find them at most home improvement centers. They should be changed at least as often as the owner's manual calls for. Change even more frequently during dusty or high pollen seasons. This is often one of the biggest factors in reducing operating cost of systems.
Keep the system mold-free: keep the area around the air intake clean and free of mold. Anything picked up here will travels throughout the duct work spreading everywhere.
Check for leaks in the duct work: loss of heating and cooling through leaks in duct work is expensive. It is much more cost effective to repair them than pay for them through lost temperature control.
Clean air ducts as recommended by manufacturer: most recommend this at least every 2 years. This may be a complicated undertaking best handled by professionals.
Maintain dampers and damper motors: clean and adjust them as needed to prevent poor air flow. This will save you money. They have moving parts, so anticipate regular maintenance.
Check belts, bearings and fans: All moving parts should be inspected and services at least every 6 months. Moving mechanical parts must be properly cleaned and lubricated, belts should be in good repair and must have proper tension applied. Replace parts when they show signs of heavy wear.
Examine control box and valves: improperly functioning control boxes or actuator valves cost money through inefficient performance of the system.
When In Doubt, Call In The Professionals
Much of the maintenance on HVAC systems is what is considered operator's level maintenance. This would include keeping the unit clean; inside and out, changing out filters and general observation to ensure all is well.
But some of it calls for the skills and knowledge of the train professional. Know your limits and get help when needed. It's not only safer, but it will save you money in the long run.
by: Brian Greenberg
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