7 Tips To Help You Maintain Your HVAC Unit in St. Louis weather

Your HVAC system is essential to the comfortable and safe habitation of your home. No matter if it’s helping combat the heat or stave off the bitter cold – it’s an essential component all households need.

It’s common for most homeowners to take an “out of sight, out of mind” approach to their HVAC, only acknowledging it when something goes wrong.

The reality is that maintaining your HVAC is much easier than repairing or replacing it. Avoid temperature and air quality issues by taking steps to maintain your HVAC now before problems start to arise.

If you’re not sure what steps to take to take care of your HVAC, we have you covered! Let’s take a look at some of the easiest ways you can keep your HVAC running properly and smoothly. After all, we would hate for you to be stuck without heating and air in St. Louis where the weather is unpredictable.

Change Your Air Filters On Time

The filter is what keeps all of the unwanted dust, dirt, grime, pollutants, and other debris out of the air in your home. Naturally, after catching all that stuff for a long time, these filters will eventually become filthy and clogged. A clogged filter will not only do a poor job keeping things out of the air in your home, but it can also affect airflow and cause issues within the system. Make sure your system stays at optimal performance by staying on top of air filter changing –  ideally, at least once a month. A good way to avoid forgetting is to set reminders or calendar events in your phone.

Keep Your System Free of Excess Debris

Outdoor units are much more susceptible to the elements, so it’s not uncommon to see a buildup of sticks, leaves, snow, trash, and other forms of debris around them. Be vigilant in clearing those things out because if something were to get inside of your unit, you could be looking at a very costly issue that was avoidable. Check around your unit every once in a while to keep it clear of all unwanted junk.

Keep Air Vents Open

Closed air vents leading to a reduction in heating and cooling bills is a myth. Don’t fall for it. The honest take is that closed air vents increase the pressure on your HVAC unit and are a terrible practice for the health of your system. Keeping air vents closed can lead to a malfunction. Use best practices and keep them open and clear of any blockages and obstructions.

Seal All Drafts Around Your Home

When drafts are creeping into your home, they are directly working against the HVAC system. This, in turn, makes it work harder. This leads to overwork on the unit and higher bills, if not caught and rectified. Sealing all drafts avoids these issues as well as regulates the temperature in your home much better.

Keep the Fan Clean

Air is moved through your home by the fan in the HVAC system. Therefore, a dirty fan can drastically alter the quality of the air you get in your home. Just like changing the filter, check the fan regularly and keep it clean of dust and dirt.

Use Optimal Temperature Settings

Modern HVACs generally have an optimal temperature setting on the thermostat. Think of this setting as a similar concept to the economy settings in automobiles. Optimal settings keep your home comfortable while also staying efficient. Minimize the risk of malfunction, overwork, and underperformance by utilizing the optimal temp setting.

Schedule an HVAC Service Appointment With Your Local Service Provider

The DIY remedies only cover so much of the needed maintenance for your HVAC system. Sometimes, you need the professionals to handle the situation. Just like any other major piece of machinery, your HVAC needs tune-ups and regular maintenance to maintain optimal performance. A tune-up might even put money back in your pocket by way of lower bills, because the professionals will optimize the performance of your system.

Don’t Be Left In The Cold, Find a Professional Near You

If it’s been a little while since someone took a look at your HVAC, there is no better time to have it serviced than the fall. It shouldn’t be too hard to get a professional out to your home, considering most areas have plenty of options to choose from. Start a search and narrow options by factors that matter to you like price, reputation, and timeline.