With the new year comes the desire to do things a little differently than before. Because of this, you may be thinking of some things that you can do to get a fresh start and to improve your health. One of these ways is by taking care of your heater and HVAC system. Here's a new year's resolution checklist to help you get started.
Despite their small size, the air filters for your HVAC system do a big job. They act as a barrier to keep dust and debris from getting into the system and being circulated through the air. If you have noticed that your family suffered from allergies quite often during this past year, it may be because you aren't changing your air filters enough.
You should make it one of your New Year's resolutions to change your air filters more frequently in the upcoming year. If you just aren't sure how often you should change your air filters, check them each month. If they are full of dust and debris, you should be changing them more frequently.
There's a good chance that you aren't using every single room in your home. However, if you are leaving the vents in these rooms open, you are paying to heat and cool them despite the fact that they aren't being used. This can lead to a lot of wasted money every single month. You can prevent this waste from happening by shutting the vents. Just make sure that you shut the doors as well so that you aren't letting any cold air escape into the parts of your home that you are actually using.
It's not uncommon for an HVAC system to show warning signs before a big issue is starting to occur. While it can be easy to ignore these issues because they might be small, the problems can turn into an expensive repair later on. You may be able to keep this from happening by going through your home to look for noticeable issues.
Check your outside unit. Make sure there aren't any water leaks or vegetation overgrowths that might come into contact with it. Inspect your inside unit to determine if there are odd noises that occur when the system turns on and off. Place your hand near all of your vents to make sure that there's a decent amount of air coming out of them. If you find that one vent has less air coming out of it than the others, then there may be an issue with some of your ductwork.
Your home probably doesn't need to be at the same temperature all times of the day. When you aren't home or are asleep at night, you can keep the thermostat set at a lower temperature. To keep from having to remember to change the settings over and over again, you can have a programmable thermostat installed. Such a thermostat will automatically adjust to the temperature that you want your home to be during specified times of day.
If there are high levels of humidity in your home, mold can start to grow, and this may trigger issues with different respiratory problems that you or your family has. Fortunately, you can keep using your heat without putting your family at risk by using a dehumidifier. A dehumidifier is inexpensive, but it is also a quick and easy way to get rid of the humidity in your home.
A lot of people don't realize the impact that a dirty home can have on their HVAC system. It can disrupt the air flow and cause your air filters to get dirty a lot quicker. This is why you should make it a point to deep clean your home on a regular basis in the new year.
It's also a good idea to get rid of clutter because it can collect a lot of dust that's difficult to clean. Go through each room in your home to identify items that you don't need. Wipe down everything starting from the ceiling down to the baseboards. Even if a room already looks clean, you may be surprised at just how much dirt and dust is present once you start to wipe everything down. If you struggle with keeping your home clean, it's a good time to start a new routine. Set aside a day each week to focus on certain cleaning tasks.
You should never slack on having maintenance done on your HVAC system. Even if you think that your HVAC system is running fine, it is still a good idea to let a technician inspect your system at least twice a year. They can identify issues that you might not be aware of. A lot of expensive issues can be avoided just by having your HVAC system maintained on a regular basis.
Your home may have all sorts of air leaks that you don't even know about. Check around the doors and windows to see if you feel any sort of draft. If you do, then you may need to add a new seal or replace windows or doors. This will help your HVAC system run more efficiently, and you may notice a reduction in your heating and cooling bills as well. Don't put off fixing these air leaks because you don't think that they are a big deal. They will just get worse, and you will have a difficult time keeping your home at a comfortable temperature.
Your HVAC system isn't meant to last forever. The older it is, the more inefficient it will start to get. A lot of homeowners don't realize this, and they don't replace their unit until a major repair is needed.
If your system is over 10 years old, you should consider replacing it. You'll be able to save money on your energy bills with a more efficient HVAC system, and you won't have to deal with it breaking down because of its age. Before deciding which system to replace it with, you should talk to one of our HVAC technicians. We can talk to you about the best options for your home.
Your New Year's resolutions should involve maintaining your heating and HVAC system. If you are located Las Vegas, Nevada, or Bountiful, Utah, Express Home Services can help you. We offer a variety of different repairs and installations for your HVAC and air conditioner, no matter how big or small your home is. Contact Express Home Services to learn more about how we can help you check off some of your items on your New Year's resolutions checklist.