You don’t have to familiarize yourself with the intricate ins and out’s of system functionality, but several specific pieces of HVAC knowledge come in handy for energy savings and easy maintenance. The next time you have a service appointment scheduled, be ready to ask your HVAC technician these 7 basic questions around HVAC upkeep.
1. How Often Should I Have My Air Ducts Cleaned?
Depending on the type of air filtration system your HVAC has, you should consider having your ducts cleaned, inspected and possibly re-sealed anywhere between five and eight years.
2. Does My Home Need Surge Protection?
The simple answer is, yes. As with mostly all protective purchases, the benefits are circumstantial. You might install a surge protector and find you never have to use it – in that case, you should be grateful to have avoided tempestuous weather conditions or lightning storms. But, if we’re talking about the overall electrical power of your system, surge protection is a perfect precaution.
3. Why Do I Have Poor Airflow?
Poor airflow is usually the result of a poorly designed duct system. When your system isn’t sealed tightly enough, or an air leak goes undetected, airflow passes through your system unevenly. You may need a professional to re-work your duct system, or, if you find air doesn’t flow to the opposite side of your house, a zone damper system might be a better solution.
4. Should I Power-Down My Unit When I’m Away?
You should never turn your system completely off when you leave for the day. Either raise or lower your thermostats three to five degrees from its normal set point. That way, your system is maintaining an ideal temperature all day, and you don’t have to power it on high when you get home.
5. Why Do My Lights Flicker When My AC Unit Comes On?
When your outdoor unit affects your indoor lighting, it typically means your system is using too much electricity to start up. Avoid this simply by leaving your system on and under the control of programmable thermostats, or adding a start-assist to your HVAC unit.
6. Where Is All This Dust Coming From?
If you notice an increase in the amount of dust circulating in your home, double-check the type of air filtration you’re using. The wrong size filter, or a low-quality type of filter, is going to be inefficient. You also might want to consider adding an air purifier to your home’s ventilation process.
7. Why Are My Electric Bills So High In The Summer?
A spike in electricity is usually caused by a system defect, an undetected air leak, or very simply an old system that doesn’t function as efficiently as it once did. In this case, you want to get the problem diagnosed as soon as possible so you’re not paying continuously high bills.
When you know the answers to these questions relative to your own HVAC system, you’re better equipped in handling the issue. This saves you money on expensive, professional diagnoses, and offers you better insight into specific energy-saving techniques.
Want to continue growing your knowledge on effective and inexpensive heating and cooling? Call the Comfort Consultants from On Time Experts at 281-694-7946 or send us an email to begin your Home Comfort Process today.