Heater Maintenance Las Cruces, NM
If you’re like most homeowners, you value your home. It’s probably your biggest investment, so you want to ensure you have an ongoing maintenance plan in place. In other words, you want your home to last and retain its value. The best way to do that is to perform regular maintenance on your home. From the appliances to the HVAC system, you want to keep everything in optimal working order. Some tasks will likely need to be performed by a professional technician, but there are a few things you can do yourself like heater maintenance.
Your HVAC unit is perhaps the most costly piece of equipment in your home and its longevity is a priority. So, what steps can you take to keep your HVAC system in top optimal condition? Read on for five tips on maintaining your home’s HVAC unit.
Changing filters during heater maintenance
We all realize that changing the air filter of the HVAC system is important, but it’s one of those tasks that is often forgotten about. However, it is critical for the optimal operation of the unit. Why is it so important? There are several reasons:
Dirt, dust, and grime all hinder the airflow coming into your home from the HVAC unit. Whether it’s heat in the winter or cold air in summer, a dirty air filter slows down the flow. The dirt acts as a barrier to the warm or cool air blowing in your home. In addition, if the buildup of dirt becomes too thick, it can cause your evaporator coils to freeze up in the summer. Finally, clean air filters help the air quality in your home. With better air quality, you are less susceptible to allergy and respiratory issues.
Clean
In addition to cleaning/replacing your air filter, you can also clean your outdoor condensing unit. After the fall, all the leaves will have collected on and around the unit. You will notice your outdoor condensing unit has several vents or fins. When these collect with leaves, dirt, or other debris, then your system won’t operate as efficiently. You can easily remedy this problem by spraying off the condenser with a hose. Make sure all the debris is removed. Some people like to cover their air handler in the winter, especially if they live in cold climates. However, according to Angie’s List, this may not be the best course of action. The cover can serve as a hideaway for mice to keep warm, and they may do damage to the wiring. Ice can be a problem for the outdoor air handler as well. So, taking steps to ensure ice can’t fall on your unit is a good idea.
Inspect
Some furnaces, especially older versions, consist of a blower motor, blower fan, and a belt, as well as other mechanical parts. When a blower belt becomes loose or worn, it will make an annoying squealing sound. Plus, it can slip off or break completely, which leads to the blower not pushing out air. To prevent the belt from breaking or coming off, check it annually. Make sure the tension is good and the belt is not worn out.
Lubricate
Just like any mechanical parts may get stiff over time, some of the mechanical parts of your HVAC system are the same. Some furnaces are self-lubricating and don’t require oiling. If you have an older furnace, then you need to oil the bearings of the motor and blower shaft.
Know when to call a professional for heater maintenance or repairs.
When your furnace needs repair, it’s best to contact a professional technician for assistance. It can be dangerous attempting to fix it yourself. Some of the issues that may warrant a call to a technician include:
- Hearing loud noises coming from the unit
- The unit runs continuously
- The air conditioner is frozen up
- The furnace isn’t heating up the house
Maintaining your HVAC system is a joint effort between you and your friendly technician. Following these tips will help extend the longevity of your HVAC system. Contact us for more information about keeping your furnace maintained.
The guys in the yellow booties are here for all your air conditioner repair needs, along with expert swamp cooler conversions. Look to the pros if you have any questions about converting to refrigerated air conditioning with SoBellas Home Services of Las Cruces, New Mexico. Call us with questions like, how much does refrigerated air cost or anything about Las Cruces refrigerated air conversion.
Crew