Dirt and neglect are the top causes of heating and cooling system inefficiency and failure in Skagit Valley. To ensure an efficient system
operation, it’s essential to maintain your HVAC system.
Change your air filter regularly. A clean filter will prevent dust and dirt from building up in the system, which can lead to expensive maintenance and early system failure. Check your filter every month, especially during winter and summer months, when use tends to be heavier. Change your filter if it’s dirty—or at least every three months to maintain your HVAC system properly.
Tune up your HVAC equipment. Proper maintenance by an Alpine Heating and Cooling qualified technician is one of the most important steps you can take to prevent future problems. We get busy during the summer and winter months, so it is best to check the cooling system in spring and the heating system in the fall. Plan the checkups around the beginning and end of daylight-saving time each spring and fall.
Overall HVAC System Maintenance Checklist
- Check thermostat settings to ensure the heating and cooling system turns
on and off at the programmed temperatures. - Tighten all electrical connections and measure voltage and current on
motors. Faulty electrical connections can cause your system to operate
unsafely and reduce the life of major components. - Lubricate moving parts. Parts that lack lubrication cause friction in motors
and increase the amount of electricity you use. Lack of lubrication can also
cause equipment to wear out more quickly, requiring more frequent repairs
or replacements. - Check and inspect the condensate drain in your central air conditioner,
furnace, and heat pump (when in cooling mode). If plugged, the drain
can cause water damage in the house, affect indoor humidity levels, and
breed bacteria and mold. - Check system controls to ensure proper and safe operation. Check the starting
cycle of the equipment to assure the system starts, operates, and shuts
off properly. - Inspect, clean, or change the air filter in your central air conditioner, furnace,
and heat pump. Your contractor can show you how to do this yourself.
Depending on your system, your filter may be located in the duct system versus
the heating and cooling equipment itself.
Additional HVAC System-Specific Maintenance Activities
For Heating Systems:
- Inspect the flue piping for rusting and any disconnections or evidence of
back drafting. - Check all gas (or oil) connections, gas pressure, burner combustion, and heat
exchanger. Improper burner operation can be caused by a dirty burner or a
cracked heat exchanger—either can cause the equipment to operate less safely
and efficiently. Leaking gas (or oil) connections are also a fire hazard and can
contribute to health problems.
For Cooling Systems:
- Clean indoor and outdoor coils before warm weather starts. A dirty coil
reduces the system’s ability to cool your home and causes the system to run
longer, increasing your energy costs and shortening the life of your equipment. - Check your central air conditioner’s refrigerant charge and adjust it if
necessary to make sure it meets manufacturer specifications. Too much or too
little refrigerant charge can damage the compressor, reducing the life of your
equipment and increasing costs. - Clean and adjust blower components to provide proper system airflow. Proper
airflow over the indoor coil is necessary for efficient equipment operation
and reliability.
Alpine Heating & Cooling services all of Skagit Valley including Anacortes, La Conner, Mount Vernon, Sedro-Woolley, and Burlington. Contact us today to schedule maintenance for your HVAC system!
Summer is a wonderful time of year especially for those who enjoy the great outdoors. That said coming home to a cool and comfortable home sometimes requires a little bit of proper maintenance, care and management when it comes to a residential HVAC system. Here are a few simple ways to maximize the efficiency of your HVAC system. For example, it is best to make sure that your HVAC system is balanced. Balancing a system of this nature simply involves making adjustments with regard to what are known as volume control dampers as well as registers.
Only Requires Moving a Lever
While not all systems have these components, the ones that do would be best served by having a quick inspection and balancing performed. Registers are perhaps the easiest to deal with and only require moving a lever to make an adjustment. Registers simply control how much conditioned air is allowed to enter a particular room or space within your home. As a note, registers that are positioned the farthest from the main HVAC system should always be kept full open.
Call An Expert To Adjust Registers
Conversely, those that are located close to the central system can be adjusted to be partially closed or completely closed as necessary. While homeowners can do this on their own, it is sometimes best to call upon an expert to adjust registers. This is simply due to the fact that professional technicians will have unique and special instruments that can measure airflow and temperature more accurately. The end result is energy savings and lower utility bills.
Replace Any Items That Have Proven To Be Defective
In addition, most experts recommend establishing a preventative maintenance program for your valued HVAC system. This includes routine changing of air filters as well as inspections at least annually or bi-annually. Having the heat exchanger surfaces cleaned as well as refrigerant coils, condensers and evaporators checked will ultimately be worth it over the short and long-term. Leaks should be repaired and coils, ducts and piping as well as fitting should all be inspected regularly. Always replace any items that have proven to be defective. Contact Alpine Heating & Cooling today to learn more about HVAC system care and maintenance in the Skagit Valley including Anacortes WA, Mount Vernon, Burlington and La Conner.
As spring arrives and summer approaches it is important to maintain an HVAC system at peak operating performance year-round. Keep in mind that it is vitally important to avoid neglecting your HVAC system really anytime of the year. Keeping a system in top condition year-round helps to ensure that it will work when it is needed the most. All HVAC systems require regular cleaning and proper lubrication. This is especially true following the winter months. This reduces the chances of breakdowns especially during times of the year when you want your AC to be working at peak condition.
Improve Overall Health and Well-being
Another important factor to consider when it comes to continued ongoing maintenance on an HVAC system is that it improves the air quality in your home. It helps to reduce dust buildup and limits the amount of time that a system operates with a possible clogged air filter. Good indoor air quality can greatly improve overall health and well-being. Also important is that regular and routine HVAC maintenance and upkeep will improve efficiency and save money. A system that is clean and that operates efficiently will not have to work so hard for the results you are expecting.
Save Money and Keep Your System Working Without Interruption
It is a proven fact that a dirty HVAC system with coils that have layers of dust and dirt on them can increase energy usage by up to 30% or more. Leaks are another serious concern that can end up increasing energy usage as well. Whether your system is leaking or it is clogged, having regular maintenance and inspections can save money and keep your system working without interruption. Working with an experienced and knowledgeable team of professional HVAC experts is the best way to make sure that your system is cared for in the right way.
Return Your System To Full Functionality
Homeowners are choosing to have regular routine maintenance inspections of their HVAC systems. Whether it is low refrigerant or a malfunctioning component, a seasoned and experienced technician will find the problem quickly and return your HVAC system to full functionality. Contact Alpine Heating & Cooling today to learn more about our HVAC system maintenance repair and upkeep for homes and business in the Skagit Valley including Mount Vernon WA, Burlington WA, Anacortes, Bow, WA, Sedro-Woolley and Stanwood.