Congrats on purchasing your first home! You are undoubtedly delighted with your investment, though you may feel overloaded by all the new responsibilities. Now that you’re the owner, not the renter, it’s your job to maintain all your home’s appliances and utility equipment, like the heating and cooling equipment.
If the only interaction you’ve ever come across with a furnace or air conditioner is to change the thermostat, you have plenty to learn. Try these HVAC system basics for brand-new homeowners.
Know the Different Elements of an HVAC System
HVAC stands for heating, ventilation and air conditioning. Unless you live in the perfect climate, your new home probably has this system to keep you warm during the winter and cool in the summer. Here are the important parts of an HVAC system:
- Comfort equipment, such as an air conditioner, air-source heat pump, furnace, boiler, geothermal heat pump or ductless mini-split, to name a few possibilities.
- Ductwork fixed to return and supply registers when it comes to air-forced systems like ACs, heat pumps and furnaces.
- Radiators or hot water distribution systems in the case of boilers.
- Indoor air quality products, such as an air filter, whole-house humidifier, whole-house dehumidifier, air purifier or energy-recovery ventilator.
- Thermostat for indoor comfort control.
Understand the Importance of Preventive Maintenance
When you were renting your home, the landlord probably took care of HVAC maintenance tasks such as replacing the air filter. They may or may not have also handled the bill for thorough heating and cooling inspections.
Now that you’re taking care of things, you can give preventive maintenance the attention it deserves. First, prioritize these do-it-yourself HVAC maintenance tasks:
- Swap out the air filter every 30 to 90 days.
- Gently hose down the outdoor unit and cut back vegetation to improve airflow.
- Keep all air registers open to maintain proper system balance.
Then, arrange yearly maintenance for each HVAC unit. Only a qualified professional can perform in-depth tasks like cleaning the furnace burners, recharging the AC refrigerant and measuring air leaks in the ductwork. Anticipate the following benefits when you call a professional to inspect your system once a year:
- Energy savings
- Fewer breakdowns
- More affordable repair bills
- Superior home comfort
- Extended system life span
- Peace of mind
Keep an Eye Out for Signs of Trouble
Repairing and replacing the HVAC system is the homeowner’s responsibility. Watch for these clues that it’s time to call a heating and cooling contractor:
- Loud noise: Don’t ignore a squealing, rattling, clanking or banging sound. It can be a cry for help from your furnace or air conditioner.
- Comfort or air quality trouble: Inconsistent temperatures, high or low humidity, stale rooms and moldy smells are regularly associated with faulty HVAC equipment.
- Low energy efficiency: Are your bills mysteriously increasing? This can mean your heating and cooling system isn’t running correctly.
- Old age: Like all mechanical utilities, HVAC systems eventually give out. The typical life span of a furnace or boiler is 15 years, while air conditioners and heat pumps run about a decade.
Understand the HVAC Replacement Process
If a defective furnace or air conditioner can’t be fixed, you’ll need to replace it with an HVAC professional's help. Here’s how that works:
- Explain the problem to the contractor and permit them to explore it more in-depth.
- The tech will next identify the problem and recommend available solutions. A repair could be feasible, but depending on the unit’s condition and age, a replacement might be more cost-effective.
- You can obtain numerous opinions and estimates from assorted contractors if you want.
- When you contact Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning, a residential sales consultant will review what HVAC system, brand, fuel type and efficiency rating is ideal for you.
- The contractor should compose a written estimate outlining the work necessary, the equipment they’ll install and the final cost. You should also be given info about warranty coverage, service plans and financing options.
- Schedule the installation as soon as you figure out what system you want. Your contractor will take care of everything, including hauling away the old equipment for appropriate disposal.
- The sales consultant will walk through the new system with you, describing how to use it, helping with any questions and offering all the required documentation.
Call Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning
If you have questions about these HVAC system guidelines, feel free to get in touch with Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning. We emphasize customer education to help you make an informed decision about your HVAC system. Our team is experienced in a full array of HVAC services, so reach out for everything from
furnace maintenance to
AC repair to
heat pump installation. For more info or to ask about an estimate, please
get in touch with your local Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning office today.