Blog Layout

Prioritizing HVAC Maintenance on a Budget

Admin • June 10, 2020

Fixing a Broken Residential HVAC | Hampton, VA | Comfort Technology

Maintaining your home's HVAC system is a vital part of ensuring its longevity and minimizing long-term operating costs. While the best option for a healthy system is to sign up for an annual service contract, not everyone can afford to budget HVAC maintenance so far in advance. If you are working on a tighter budget, prioritizing maintenance tasks can help get the most crucial work out of the way.

An excellent way to plan essential tasks is to begin with cheaper, easier maintenance items first. As time and money allow, you can move on to more expensive or complicated tasks. Below you will find a prioritized checklist of three maintenance items that you should attempt to address throughout the year.

1. Basic Cleaning and Upkeep

When it comes to HVAC maintenance costs, there's nothing better than free! Your home HVAC system has several items that can benefit from regular cleaning and inspection. You won't need any special equipment to perform this task, so there's no reason to leave it off of your spring cleaning to-do list.

To begin, check around your outdoor AC condenser unit for weeds, debris, rodent nests, or other apparent problems. If possible, clear obstructions for several feet around the unit. Washing the condenser coils down with water is another excellent idea, and you can purchase a low-cost foaming coil cleaner for a more thorough clean.

You can also clean your indoor evaporator coil. Check your system's manual to determine its exact location, but you will usually be able to find an access panel on your air handler. When cleaning your evaporator, avoid using a vacuum cleaner or water. Instead, purchase a no-rinse foaming cleaner specially designed for evaporator coils.

2. Air Filter Check and Replacement

Your home's air filter is an integral part of your overall HVAC system. When your filter becomes clogged or dirty, it can drastically affect interior air quality. Even worse, the restricted airflow can increase wear on other components, cause premature failures, and reduce the overall efficiency of your system. Regular air filter changes can prevent these problems and keep your air clean.

When working on a budget, routine filter inspections ensure that you do not replace your filter too often or too infrequently. Check your filter every few weeks and replace it when you notice a significant amount of dirt build-up on the screen. As a general rule, expect to replace simple fiberglass filters more often than heavy-duty pleated or HEPA filters.

Making filter inspections a part of your routine can also help you to budget for replacement costs. Most homes go through filters at a steady rate, so once you understand how quickly yours becomes dirty, you can plan for how often you should purchase replacements. If in doubt, err on the side of caution and replace your filter if its condition appears questionable.

3. Professional Inspections

Even if you cannot afford a yearly audit of your HVAC system, you will still want to schedule a professional inspection at least once every few years. During this inspection, the technician will perform a range of services, including parts lubrication and electrical tests. If any components are beginning to show signs of wear, then an inspection is an excellent way to catch the problem before they fail.

As your system ages, you may want to prioritize more frequent inspections. For newer systems, you should also consult your warranty packet. Manufacturer warranties may sometimes mandate inspections, making these services more crucial to perform. Remember that HVAC check-ups can save you money over the long run, so they are always a good idea if you can fit them into your budget.

Whatever your maintenance needs, Comfort Technology Heating & Air Conditioning can help you to develop an affordable long-term plan. Give us a call to discuss maintenance options that fit your budget!

< Older Post Newer Post >