The heating season can be tough on your HVAC system. Even a mild winter can bring new problems to light, especially if your furnace or HVAC unit is older. Thankfully, you can get out ahead of common winter HVAC problems through proper HVAC system maintenance. There is a lot that you can do to keep your heating & air conditioning working well year-round, but regular HVAC system maintenance checks with your service team are important too.
DIY HVAC System Maintenance
To start with the furnace tips that you can use yourself, there are three simple things you can do this winter to get more out of your furnace and avoid emergency HVAC system repair.
- Change your air filter: This is one of the easiest things you can do to keep your HVAC system working well. Not only do dirty air filters make your energy bills more expensive and your heating less effective, they can cause damage to the heating unit itself if left unaddressed. That is why the humble air filter is such a crucial part of good HVAC system maintenance.
- Clean outdoor units: Cleaning the outdoor components of your HVAC system in the winter can help you avoid a lot of common HVAC issues. Make sure to keep your HVAC unit clear of debris, leaves, and snow.
- Check for mold: Take stock of your indoor unit to make sure there is not mold building up inside the system. Simply performing a visual check around your HVAC unit for excess moisture or built up water can prevent you from needing some very expensive HVAC system maintenance indeed.
Get the Most from Your Maintenance Checks
Once you have taken care of these key HVAC maintenance tasks, there are a few things you can ask your HVAC service team to do as well. Not every HVAC system maintenance visit comes with these components, so make sure to ask your team what will be included in each visit.
- Ductwork inspections: A complete HVAC system maintenance visit will include an inspection of your ductwork to check for leaks, buildup, and blockages. Your ducts play a crucial role in proper HVAC function, and should be cleaned regularly by your HVAC service technician or team.
- Proactive part replacement: It might seem counter-intuitive, but you should have parts replaced in your HVAC system before they break. You can ask your service team to check for signs of wear or malfunction to make sure parts are replaced before they damage other components.
- HVAC system maintenance schedule: A simple schedule can go a long way towards ensuring your HVAC system is inspected and cleaned by a professional often enough. A maintenance contract can save you a lot while ensuring regular maintenance, so ask for one that specifies a maintenance schedule if you want to get the most out of your HVAC system.
Learn More About HVAC System Maintenance
With the above tips in mind, you should be ready to enjoy comfortable heating all winter long. If you do run into trouble, though, do not hesitate to get in touch with our heating & air conditioning professionals at Galmiche and Sons for emergency inspection and repair in St. Louis.
