What Are HVAC Basics Every Homeowner Should Know?

DIY, Blog, HVAC, Maintenance, OH, Ohio, Spring, Wilmington

Unless you’ve pursued a career in the industry, the subject of HVAC (aka Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) may appear dull and complicated. At Wilmington Heating & Cooling, we want to make things more clear and enticing for you. So whether nestling up to binge your favorite show or winding down to read in bed, we seek to deliver our best services to bring you some comfort while doing whatever you enjoy doing within your household. For now, we will speak more on how to maintain your HVAC system, what to do when something is amiss, and what preventative maintenance can do for you.

How You Ought to Maintain Your HVAC System?

The most profitable HVAC maintenance you can grant your home is preventative. By being proactive, you’re putting in efforts that will support the prevention of future problems from transpiring. Some things that can go awry with your HVAC include leaks, corrosion, and cold or hot air distribution. Dirty coils and clogged filters can also cause trouble, so remaining on top of your maintenance duties year after year will prove vital. 

First, consistently maintain the following: ensure areas around both indoor and outdoor HVAC components are free of obstructions and debris (2 feet boundary) and invest in a high-efficiency air filter, changing them out as needed. Then, every month, review your A/C refrigerant lines linking your outdoor A/C to your system’s indoor evaporator coil for leaks. Next, when summer strikes, please do yourself a favor and turn the water to the furnace humidifier off, and turn it back on in the fall. 

Lastly, these are the items you should accomplish once a year: 

  • Substitute the batteries in all carbon monoxide detectors
  • Secure your outdoor A/C unit is standing on level ground
  • Wash your A/C condensation drain line with bleach
  • Lubricate your HVAC, and exchange its fan belt if it’s not efficiently operating.

Here at Wilmington Heating & Cooling, we suggest signing up for a preventative maintenance plan to help you find serenity in understanding your HVAC system is being appropriately overseen. The life expectancy of an HVAC system is 10 to 25 years. How you sustain that system will be the difference in whether it lasts more proximate to 10 or 25.

What If Your HVAC System Malfunctions?

As warmer temperatures surface, guaranteeing your A/C is properly functioning is crucial. However, what should you do if you give your A/C a seasonal test run and it is unsuccessful? First thing’s first, make sure your furnace isn’t the issue. Next, set your thermostat to A/C mode and lower the temperature setting. If the furnace fan kicks on, the trouble isn’t with the furnace. If the fan doesn’t work, try resetting the circuit breaker to your furnace. Then, if the fan still doesn’t work, it is time to call a professional. Now, if the furnace isn’t the concern, you may be able to fix the issue yourself. However, fixing the problem can be rather stressful, but we would gladly assist you in whatever way we can!

When to Contact HVAC Specialists?

An HVAC specialist will help guarantee that your HVAC unit is as energy-efficient as possible. It’s time to call the pros when:

  • A faulty part needs replacement
  • A routine maintenance appointment demands scheduling
  • A strange noise requires inspection
  • Your energy bill is sky-high
  • Your thermostat is warning you of excess humidity or water
  • Something stinks like it’s burning
  • You wish to save money in the long run on repair expenses 
  • Your indoor air quality is out of wack
  • You want to extend the lifespan of your air conditioner

Nonetheless, whether you are handy and intuitive, unless you have the schooling of someone proficient in HVAC, it will consistently be in your best interest as a homeowner to speak with an expert before acting further when a situation arises with your HVAC system. It would be best if you didn’t suffer the unwarranted misfortunes of an inadequate attempt to fix your system alone. So let us offer you a breather from your troubles. Call Wilmington Heating & Cooling today at (937) 764-3575, or schedule an appointment online now by clicking here!

Call Wilmington Heating & Cooling

(937) 764-3575

Recent Blog Posts: