During the hot summer months, most of us are putting our air condition systems to the ultimate test. And more often than not, we are doing things to our HVAC systems that can cause damage in the long run.
Luckily, many of these mistakes are easily avoidable. Keep reading for our top 5 summer maintenance mistakes to avoid when using your HVAC system.
1. Avoiding Professional Maintenance
The number one mistake that homeowners make when it comes to their HVAC system, is not getting regular cleaning maintenance from a professional. This causes your system to become dirty, which means that it will have to work twice as hard to cool your home.
This not only can cost you money on your electricity bill but can also cost you your system. It is recommended that you hire a professional to conduct a check-up at least once a year, and preferably before the hot summer months.
2. Changing Air Filters
If you aren’t changing your air filters regularly, your unit will have a hard time drawing in air. Having filters that are caked with dust and debris not only lowers your air quality, but it also adds stress to your system and prevents it from running its best.
This can cause your system to take much longer to cool your house to the desired temperature. Luckily air filters are cheap and easy to replace yourself. This easy maintenance is important to keep up with and can have a big impact on your system.
3. Closing Vents
It’s common to think that if you shut off air vents in rooms you aren’t using that you can cut down on your cooling costs. But the reality is that doing this can actually cause areas of your system to freeze up.
Your HVAC system was designed and laid out to keep air circulating throughout your entire home. So by closing vents, you can actually create a backup of pressure in the air ducts and reduce circulation which is an added stress to your system.
4. Improperly Using Your Thermostat
There are many theories to adjusting your thermostat in the summer to save money. The Department of Energy recommends that you pick a comfortable temperature, around 78 degrees, and leave your thermostat be.
By cranking it down significantly when we want to cool off the house, you can actually end up wasting energy. Allow your system to do its job and cool your home slowly without added stress.
Another common misconception is that if you are leaving your home you should turn the system off. While this can be efficient when you are leaving for vacation, turning it off just to leave the house for a few hours makes your system work twice as hard when you come home and turn it back on.
5. Having The Wrong Sized System
Another common mistake that homeowners make, is having the wrong sized system. If your system is too big, it often won’t be able to remove humidity as quickly as it cools. This can lead to you continuously turning it down lower and wasting energy.
And if your unit is too small, you will likely have to keep it running all the time to ensure your home is cool. This not only wastes energy but also can cut the life of your system short.
Avoiding Summer Maintenance Mistakes
These summer maintenance mistakes are easily avoidable. And by conducting regular maintenance and keeping these other factors in mind, you will save both time and money in the long run.
For all of your HVAC questions and concerns, contact us!
