Your HVAC systems are responsible for keeping you and your family comfortable all year round. However, if you want to be able to trust that these systems are up to the task, you’ll need to make sure that you keep up with your seasonal HVAC maintenance needs.
No one wants to take risks when their own comfort is on the line. So, if you’re a Chester County homeowner wanting to ensure your HVAC systems are ready when you need them most, here’s everything you need to know about seasonal HVAC maintenance.
Why is Seasonal HVAC Maintenance So Important?
Many homeowners take their HVAC systems for granted. However, ignoring your HVAC maintenance needs can lead to a wide variety of costly, inconvenient, and even dangerous problems that could be easily avoided.
One of the first things homeowners sacrifice by ignoring HVAC maintenance is efficiency. Without regular tune-ups and cleanings, your systems won’t work as efficiently as they should, causing your energy bills to increase. Still, efficiency isn’t the only reason regular maintenance is so important.
Seasonal maintenance is also crucial for detecting safety hazards and preventing unexpected and costly breakdowns. Whether it’s replacing a part before it has the chance to break and cause more damage or finding a small leak in your furnace that could cause your home to fill up with life-threatening carbon monoxide, all of these dire situations and more can be avoided by staying on top of your HVAC maintenance needs.
When and How Often Should You Have Your HVAC Systems Serviced?
In general, you should have your HVAC systems serviced once a year. However, the best time to do it depends on which system you’re servicing.
The main purpose of seasonal maintenance is to ensure that your systems are ready to handle the seasons when they are used most. So, naturally, the best time to service air conditioners is in the spring before it gets too hot, while the best time to service heating systems is in the fall before it gets too cold.
On the other hand, heat pumps are a bit different because they are used for both heating and cooling. So, if you use one of these systems, you should service it twice a year in the spring and fall.
DIY Seasonal HVAC Maintenance
Many of the most important parts of seasonal HVAC maintenance are too difficult and complicated for nonexperts to handle themselves. However, while you should seek professional help for most of your HVAC maintenance needs, there are still plenty of things you can and should do yourself to ensure that your HVAC systems continue to perform at their peak.
Change Air Filters
The easiest seasonal HVAC maintenance task you can do is change your air conditioner’s air filters regularly. Clogged-up air filters can cause a number of issues, including decreased system efficiency and a reduction in the air quality in your home. But just how often should you change them?
Well, even though many people overlook this aspect of HVAC maintenance, most air filter manufacturers suggest that you change these filters every 90 days at the beginning of each season.
Keep Vents Unobstructed
Most HVAC systems use a series of ducts and vents to move hot and cool air throughout your home. That being said, if any of these vents are obstructed by furniture, it can make it much harder for your HVAC systems to do their job.
All this extra stress won’t just cause a dip in efficiency. It can also lead to increased wear and tear that could eventually cause your HVAC systems to break down. But, all you need to do to avoid these issues is to move any obstacles out of the way.
Clean Condensate Drain
Most air conditioners and many furnaces have a condensate drain that the system uses to collect and dispose of condensation. However, over time, the drain is likely to clog with gunk, dirt, and other debris.
This drain is essential to protecting your HVAC systems and your home from costly water damage. So, you should clean these drains every spring and fall to prevent excess condensation from building up and causing problems.
Keep Outdoor Condesnor Units Clear of Debris
Another simple way to ensure your HVAC systems are well maintained is to keep your outdoor condenser or heat pump units clear of debris. Just like with the vents in your home, blockages around these outdoor units can cause efficiency issues and increased wear and tear, leading to costly and inconvenient breakdowns.
Whether it’s routinely trimming the grass and plants around your outdoor unit or moving outdoor furniture and any other objects farther away, keeping the area around your condenser or heat pump unit clear is crucial to ensuring it continues functioning properly.
Chester County Fuel Oil: The One-Stop Shop for All Your HVAC Maintenance Needs
Are you looking for a company you can trust to meet all your seasonal HVAC maintenance needs? Look no further than Chester County Fuel Oil.
Chester County Fuel Oil is the most trusted HVAC service company in Chester County, offering a comprehensive range of HVAC maintenance and repair services to homeowners all over southeasten PA.
They know just how important HVAC maintenance is, and with decades of industry experience, a highly skilled team of expert HVAC technicians, and a reputation for being “First in Customer Satisfaction”, you can trust that they have what it takes to keep your HVAC systems in peak condition.
Whether you need a seasonal tune-up or are interested in signing a convenient and affordable service contract, if you need an HVAC maintenance service you can trust, there’s no better choice than Chester County Fuel Oil.
Contact Chester County Fuel Oil Today
Are you ready to schedule a yearly tune-up? Give Chester County Fuel Oil a call. Their team of friendly HVAC experts is always there to answer questions and will happily help you schedule your service. So, don’t risk surprise breakdowns and higher energy bills when you don’t have to. Call Chester County Fuel Oil and take care of all your seasonal HVAC maintenance needs today!
