Importance Of Home HVAC Maintenace
April 9, 2020
Homeownership in Greensboro and the Triad comes with a lot of responsibility. In addition to making sure that you pay your mortgage on time every month, you also have to make sure the things in and around your home are working efficiently. The HVAC system may get taken for granted for heating and cooling our homes, but it's maintenance is important to keeping your home running comfortably.
HVAC, which stands for “heating, ventilation, and air conditioning,” is the system responsible for maintaining the temperature in your home. It is also partially responsible for optimal air quality and energy efficiency of your home.
Most of the HVAC maintenance that you undertake as a homeowner is proactive and preventative. However, there is a lot that can go wrong with your HVAC, including leaks, corrosion, and issues with distributing hot or cold air. Everything from clogged filters to dirty coils can lead to a problem with your unit.
Homeownership in Greensboro and the Triad comes with a lot of responsibility. In addition to making sure that you pay your mortgage on time every month, you also have to make sure the things in and around your home are working efficiently. The HVAC system may get taken for granted for heating and cooling our homes, but it's maintenance is important to keeping your home running comfortably.
HVAC, which stands for “heating, ventilation, and air conditioning,” is the system responsible for maintaining the temperature in your home. It is also partially responsible for optimal air quality and energy efficiency of your home.
Most of the HVAC maintenance that you undertake as a homeowner is proactive and preventative. However, there is a lot that can go wrong with your HVAC, including leaks, corrosion, and issues with distributing hot or cold air. Everything from clogged filters to dirty coils can lead to a problem with your unit.
There are a lot of problems that can occur with your HVAC system—some of them more common than others. And it helps to know what these problems are. Here are some problems we see in a lot of homes and businesses around the Triad:
Wiring Issues
Improper wiring results in a lack of power flowing to AC unit which is essential to keep things running smoothly. It’s an easy fix which can be addressed by a qualified specialist in no time.
However, corrosion can also be an issue with wiring. Whenever you combine wiring with moisture you have the potential of having this issue.
Frozen coil
If your coil is frozen, this could be due to a leak caused by low refrigerant or in some cases blockage in the ductwork can also be the reason. Not changing the air filters on a regular basis can also cause this problem
Fan on outside unit not running
When a fan motor does not work, it overheats and may cause severe damage to your compressor. If it operates for too long without the fan, the compressor in the air conditioner can burn up. When the motor burns, your unit will need a replacement.
Faulty Ignitions
A faulty ignition system, such as those found on furnaces with a thermocouple can significantly reduce the ability of the furnace to properly heat the home. It can also cause potentially dangerous situations, so it's best to have an annual inspection on your heating unit.
Low refrigerant
An air conditioner should not require refrigerant to be recharged. Running low on Freon generally means that you have a leak of some type. These leaks force your system to run harder than it should, and could ultimately lead to you having to replace one or more components. Depending on location of the leak, it can be repaired without significant expense.
Outside unit not running at all
Is your outside AC unit not running at all?
A blown breaker or power not being supplied to the AC unit properly can cause this issue. You can fix it by calling our factory trained specialists. They will carefully troubleshoot your AC unit and make other necessary repairs.
Dirty Filters
Filters are often the easiest and most overlooked part of HVAC Maintenance. Dirty filters can cause your system to work inefficiently and pump dust and allergens through the ducts lowering the air quality in your home and potentially clogging your unit.
Wiring Issues
Improper wiring results in a lack of power flowing to AC unit which is essential to keep things running smoothly. It’s an easy fix which can be addressed by a qualified specialist in no time.
However, corrosion can also be an issue with wiring. Whenever you combine wiring with moisture you have the potential of having this issue.
Frozen coil
If your coil is frozen, this could be due to a leak caused by low refrigerant or in some cases blockage in the ductwork can also be the reason. Not changing the air filters on a regular basis can also cause this problem
Fan on outside unit not running
When a fan motor does not work, it overheats and may cause severe damage to your compressor. If it operates for too long without the fan, the compressor in the air conditioner can burn up. When the motor burns, your unit will need a replacement.
Faulty Ignitions
A faulty ignition system, such as those found on furnaces with a thermocouple can significantly reduce the ability of the furnace to properly heat the home. It can also cause potentially dangerous situations, so it's best to have an annual inspection on your heating unit.
Low refrigerant
An air conditioner should not require refrigerant to be recharged. Running low on Freon generally means that you have a leak of some type. These leaks force your system to run harder than it should, and could ultimately lead to you having to replace one or more components. Depending on location of the leak, it can be repaired without significant expense.
Outside unit not running at all
Is your outside AC unit not running at all?
A blown breaker or power not being supplied to the AC unit properly can cause this issue. You can fix it by calling our factory trained specialists. They will carefully troubleshoot your AC unit and make other necessary repairs.
Dirty Filters
Filters are often the easiest and most overlooked part of HVAC Maintenance. Dirty filters can cause your system to work inefficiently and pump dust and allergens through the ducts lowering the air quality in your home and potentially clogging your unit.
The best way to go about maintaining your HVAC system is to have a local Greensboro Heating and Air Conditioning company, like L&H have an annual maintenance plan set in place to prevent any unforeseen issues that could cause unnecessary pain or costs. Some of the tasks included in Maintenance include:
The life expectancy of an HVAC system is about 10 to 25 years—and with preventative maintenance you can expect yours to last closer to 25 than 10.
- Inspecting the area around the visible indoor and outdoor components of your HVAC system are free of debris, including boxes, grass, leaves, and furniture.
- Ensuring that there is two feet of cleared space around all HVAC system components.
- Checking the filters are clean and highly-efficient
- Inspecting the refrigerant lines for leaks.
- Checking furnace humidifier (if you have one) in the summer
- Checking carbon monoxide detectors.
- Lubricating your HVAC motor and replace the fan belt if it’s not running efficiently.
- Cleaning your AC condensation drain line with bleach.
- Checking your outdoor AC unit and ensure that the unit is standing on level ground.
- Much more is included on our Maintenace Agreement to make sure your HVAC is performing at its peak and to keep it running strong and efficient throughout the year not matter the season
The life expectancy of an HVAC system is about 10 to 25 years—and with preventative maintenance you can expect yours to last closer to 25 than 10.
HIRE A PRO
Even though the average Greensboro Homeowner can handle most of the standard HVAC maintenance tasks by themselves, the heating and cooling system is rather complex, and some issues might not seem as clear to the layperson. This is why bringing in a qualified HVAC Technician such as L&H Heating and Air Conditioning will help with the nuances the avergae homeowner may be unfamiliar with, like checking for the proper function of electrical components and ductwork.
It’s a good investment to bring in the L&H service experts for HVAC maintenance. If your system is new you can probably get away with having someone come just once a year or every other year. For older systems, plan to have professional maintenance performed twice a year—in the spring and then again in the fall.
If you keep up to date with an HVAC maintenance plan, you can help prevent a lot of the common problems that lead to expensive repairs or even replacements.
When in doubt, Give L&H a SHOUT!!
Filed Under: Greensboro Heating and Air Conditioning Company
Post tags: HVAC | Maintenance | Greensboro | Stokesdale | Oak Ridge | Madison | Belews Lake | Heating and Cooling Systems |Furnace | Heat Pump
Even though the average Greensboro Homeowner can handle most of the standard HVAC maintenance tasks by themselves, the heating and cooling system is rather complex, and some issues might not seem as clear to the layperson. This is why bringing in a qualified HVAC Technician such as L&H Heating and Air Conditioning will help with the nuances the avergae homeowner may be unfamiliar with, like checking for the proper function of electrical components and ductwork.
It’s a good investment to bring in the L&H service experts for HVAC maintenance. If your system is new you can probably get away with having someone come just once a year or every other year. For older systems, plan to have professional maintenance performed twice a year—in the spring and then again in the fall.
If you keep up to date with an HVAC maintenance plan, you can help prevent a lot of the common problems that lead to expensive repairs or even replacements.
When in doubt, Give L&H a SHOUT!!
Filed Under: Greensboro Heating and Air Conditioning Company
Post tags: HVAC | Maintenance | Greensboro | Stokesdale | Oak Ridge | Madison | Belews Lake | Heating and Cooling Systems |Furnace | Heat Pump