What you need to know about HVAC repair – Author Kathy Haan

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Just like any part of the home, HVACs should be part of your home maintenance checklist. After all, it plays a big role in keeping your home both warm and cool, depending on what temperature you’re needing to contend with outside the walls of your home.

Comfort within the home is important, and the temperature of your home, including easy access to hot water, is something that would be sorely missed even for just a few hours of your day.

With that being said, it’s good to know all about the upkeep and maintenance that you should be delivering to your HVAC this year to keep it in good condition all year round.

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Why comfort is about more than just temperature

Comfort in the home is more than just about temperature. Other factors can contribute to your satisfaction within the home. These include:

Humidity

The humidity of your home can impact your satisfaction with the space, wherever you may be in the house. Low humidity levels can make your home too dry, and that can affect your health and bodily functions.

Too humid, and the body struggles to cool itself through sweat and evaporation, making the spaces feel a lot warmer than they are.

Air movement

Air movement is an important factor when it comes to your home. For example, unwanted drafts can cause a lot of discomfort in the home, especially when you’re not fully dressed or the draft is so intense that it’s making the room feel particularly colder.

Personal factors

There are also personal factors that can influence the space and the way it feels. Active people may prefer a cooler environment to those who like to be sedentary and in a warmer temperature.

The type of clothing you’re wearing may influence your comfort of the temperature in the room, as well as the age of the household members, which older individuals feel the cold more.

Common HVAC issues that quietly drain your energy

It’s useful to know what some of the common HVAC issues are that should be addressed so that they don’t continue to drain your energy and wallet. Here are some of those common issues worth knowing.

Airflow and maintenance

Firstly, let’s look at the airflow and maintenance of your HVAC system. If you find any problems like the ones mentioned below, reaching out to an HVAC repair service is worth the expenditure.

Dirty air filters

A clogged filter will restrict the airflow of your HVAC, forcing the system to work a lot harder as a result to circulate the air.

Leaky ductwork

Holes or poor seals in your ducts will often cause conditioned air to escape, which wastes a significant amount of energy.

Poor insulation

Insulation helps to keep your home warm, so when the insulation within your walls or roof is inadequate, it increases the energy consumption as the heat escapes quickly. There are plenty of places where insulation can be installed, from the roof space to your wall cavities.

Neglected maintenance

A lack of regular maintenance and professional checks will allow smaller problems to snowball into bigger issues that will decrease the efficiency of your HVAC. It might also decrease its lifespan if issues aren’t addressed promptly.

System and technology issues

There are a number of system and technology issues that can occur when it comes to your HVAC. Let’s touch on those, too.

Improperly sized equipment

If your HVAC system is too large or too small for the space, then it might be running inefficiently as a result.

Outdated technology

Older, less efficient systems use more energy than modern units. As such, you might want to opt for a smart HVAC next time around to keep up with its efficiency and ease of use.

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Thermostat issues

There are often thermostat issues that can contribute to the inefficiency of an HVAC. Malfunctioning or poorly calibrated thermostats can cause a system to cycle too often, which also leads to uneven temperatures, as well as wasted energy.

Incorrectly installed filters

Installing a filter in the wrong way can severely restrict airflow, causing the fan motor to work harder as a result.

How to keep your HVAC system (and your family) running smoothly

To help keep your HVAC system running smoothly and providing harmony within your family household, here’s how to keep it all running as it should.

First and foremost, make sure to change the air filter. This should ideally be done every one to three months, or as needed, depending on how much the filter gets clogged up over a period of time. A dirty filter, as mentioned, can restrict airflow, making the system work harder and use more energy as a result.

Keep your vents and registers clear, making sure that any furniture, rugs, or curtains aren’t blocking the vents to ensure proper airflow throughout the home. The outdoor unit of your home should be cleared too in order to prevent any debris from collecting around it and preventing proper airflow as a result.

Ceiling fans are a good way to circulate the air and are worth the investment to keep your family feeling cooler during the summer months. You should also explore the options of smart home solutions that make maintaining your home’s functions a lot easier to manage.

Smart thermostats, for example, can be programmed to your comfort and can adjust automatically to help lead to better energy savings. You should schedule a yearly professional check of your appliance so that any underlying issues can be highlighted and addressed.

Improve insulation and seal leaks so that your home is properly insulated in every way possible. By ensuring your home is sealed up, you prevent air from escaping, and that will keep your home warmer or cooler for longer.

By addressing the warning signs sooner, you’ll be able to enjoy comfort in your home all year round. Use these tips ot make sure your HVAC is performing as it should for your household.