Congratulations! You just acquired a new home. Whether this is your first home or not, being familiar with your appliances is very important if you want them to last long before they need a major repair. Especially the HVAC or the Heating, ventilation, and air condition machines, these possessions need to undergo regular preventive maintenance. Doing so will allow you to recognize problems, troubleshoot simple glitches, avoid common mistakes, and reward you with energy savings and reliability.

Since this is an important matter to you, we have come up with a worth-noting list of tips and tricks for your HVAC machines. Mind noting!

1. Clean or Change the Air Filter
2. Dust and other residues can build up and clog your filters. This will make the engine work harder and in the result, it will wear the unit quickly and it will spend more energy. To prevent this, always clean or change the oil filter every six months or depending on how often do you use the HVAC equipment. Some brands even have an indicator to remind you about filter changes.

1. Check the Condenser Unit Fan
2. Frequently check the fan located on the top of the outside condenser unit to be sure that it is still in shape. If there are any visible cracks and chips in one or more blades, replace them right away. Also, make sure that the fan motor bearings are lubricated by oil. This will definitely save you from the headaches associated with major equipment repair.

1. Don’t Close the Vents
2. It’s a common mistake to close the vents and cover the openings so it can make the heating or cooling easier. They thought this move saves money but the truth is it will actually increase the energy cost. The system will have to work harder to sustain the comfort level of the room, so free yourself from that misconception and don’t close the vents.

1. Annual HVAC Maintenance
2. Even if you are regularly DIY-ing the maintenance of your unit, it is still important to hire a technician to do some maintenance checking to your HVAC. This should be done at least once a year. Tuning the appliance will keep the system at its optimal state. It is recommended to do it during spring or fall before the weather becomes too hot or too cold.

1. Clean Outside Unit
2. Cleaning the outside is as important as cleaning the inside. As time goes by, fallen leaves, dirt, grass clippings and the like may accumulate on the outside part of the air conditioner unit. This will result in the reduced air flow. To clean it, turn the appliance off and lightly spray the unit using a garden hose from top to bottom at a 45-degree angle. Remember not to use power spray as it can damage the delicate fins on the coil.

1. Mind the ductwork
2. If you are experiencing uneven temperature, musty smells, too much humidity or if your house seems constantly dusty, the problem might be the ductworks. Hire an expert to inspect and clean it because leaks will harmfully affect the HVAC’s performance. How? The conditioned air will go into spaces in the ductwork that you don’t use, like between the walls and the ceiling. And that will simply cost you a lot of energy bill to pay for.

1. Find a Reputable HVAC Company
2. Look for an Air Conditioning Specialists immediately even before it breaks down it will save you time and headaches in the future. If you call an HVAC company when it’s already broken, you might not be able to research about their performance and call them impulsively. That’s why checking all available HVAC company PROACTIVELY is definitely beneficial. Look for a company who has served for several years, has a good customer service, and can provide emergency services.