Updating Your HVAC Unit

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Updating Your HVAC Unit

Growing up, I spent a lot of time at my paternal grandmother’s home during the hot summer months. I grew up in the southern United States where the temperatures routinely soared to the triple digits on some summer days. Unfortunately, my grandmother only had one small window air conditioning unit in her sprawling farmhouse. On particularly hot days, my grandmother, my numerous cousins, and I would hover around this tiny air conditioning system all day long. Sadly, my dear grandmother died before she had the opportunity to update her HVAC unit. If you’re tired of using inadequate window air conditioners, consider replacing them with a central heating and air conditioning unit. On this blog, you will discover the many benefits of choosing a central heating and air conditioning system.

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A Little End-Of-Season Maintenance Can Go A Long Way For Your Furnace

It's been a tough winter, but your furnace behaved like a trooper throughout the season, keeping bone-chilling temperatures at bay. With the spring and summer fast approaching, however, it's time to give your furnace some well-needed end-of-season maintenance.

Taking care of your furnace's maintenance needs right now can help save you plenty of headaches later on. You'll rest better knowing that your furnace will be in the best possible shape when it's placed back into service next winter.

Tasks You Can Handle On Your Own

There's plenty you can do to make sure your furnace stays in great shape before switching over to your air conditioner. Here are some great end-of-season HVAC maintenance tasks you can tackle on your own:

  • Replace the air filter. A clogged air filter not only reduces your furnace's performance, but it also lowers your home's indoor air quality.
  • Vacuum the air vents. Remove dust and debris buildup from the supply and return air vents throughout your home.
  • Clean up around the furnace. Dust and debris can become a fire hazard if left to accumulate around the furnace.
  • Reprogram the thermostat. Make sure it's programmed for summertime duty with the appropriate temperature settings.
  • Test the carbon monoxide detector. Make sure the unit works and add fresh batteries if needed.

Now is also a good time to decide whether you need a new furnace, especially if you've had problems out of your furnace throughout the previous season. The average furnace has a lifespan of around 15 years. Beyond that, most furnaces tend to suffer declining performance as they age.

Tasks Your HVAC Technician Should Tackle

Handling your own HVAC maintenance can make you feel like a superhero, but there are some tasks that only the pros can handle. Here's a small sample of what your HVAC technician can do to keep your furnace in great shape:

  • Inspect the heat exchanger. Your technician should look for cracks, rust buildup and corrosion on the exchanger.
  • Check the fuel lines. If you have a natural gas, oil or propane furnace, have the fuel lines checked for possible leaks.
  • Check the burner assembly. Your technician should also clean the burners whenever necessary.
  • Inspect the pilot light or igniter. A faulty pilot light or igniter can make it difficult to start your furnace next season.

This is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the end-of-season maintenance tasks your HVAC technician can tackle. Through a thorough inspection, your HVAC technician can identify and correct minor problems before they spiral into major issues.


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