Get a Tune Up From a Professional
Like any major system in your home, your HVAC system needs to be regularly maintained. An HVAC professional can perform a tune up by checking the HVAC’s parts to make sure that they are still in good, operating condition. If some small parts need to be replaced, the professional can fix them, which will hopefully make the system as a whole last longer and operate more efficiently.
If you find that the tune ups get more extensive and that the repairs become more costly, you may need to replace the system. Like a car, a point comes when the cost to repair the system exceeds the cost to purchase a new one.
Invest in Additional Insulation
A well-insulated house doesn’t require as much energy from an HVAC system. The more you can limit your HVAC’s use, the longer it’ll work. If your HVAC system is particularly weak, better insulation will lead to a more comfortable home overall.
Blow insulation into your attic, insulate your windows, and replace the weather stripping around your doors. If your windows are older, replace them with more energy-efficient models.
Turn the HVAC off When You Don’t Need It
When you’re out of the house, your HVAC system doesn’t need to run as often. Consider getting a smart thermostat to control when your HVAC system runs. You may not need your HVAC to fun as frequently as you think. A smart thermostat will learn from your schedule to figure out the best temperature setting for your home.
Keep Your Home and Vents Opened Up
You might be tempted to close up the vents and close empty rooms to save on electricity. But that can actually lead to a buildup of moisture and dust in your HVAC system, which can also cause it to perform poorly. An HVAC system is balanced to cool a whole house. Opening up your rooms and insulating your home is better than trying to shut off certain rooms when they’re not in use.
Clean Up and Repair Your Condenser
Your condenser is the unit that’s outside of your home. Over time it can get dirty, or plants can start to grow around it. If your condenser has a lot of debris around it, it won’t be able to perform effectively. You can easily clean it off with a hose.
If the grill around the condenser has been damaged, get a professional to fix it. Sometimes, tree branches or storms can damage the external grill around the condenser and cause it to function poorly.
Change Your Filter More Frequently
Your filter collects dust and dirt from the air inside of your home. A filter is a great tool to keep your air quality high. But you should also replace it frequently or your HVAC system will struggle to pull air through it. Change your filter whenever it looks full: when the surface is coated in dust and dirt.
Fix a Single Part of the System
If your AC unit, furnace, or compressor unit is broken, professionals advise that you replace the entire system at once. But if you really can’t afford to replace the entire system, you can always invest in an AC unit or furnace separately. However, when you invest in only one at a time, you will spend more in the long run because the units will operate at different efficiency levels.
You can find a lot of options to extend the life of an aging HVAC system, but ultimately you will eventually need to replace it. Whether you need to repair or replace your HVAC system, call a professional. Schedule a consultation with Apollo Heating & Air Conditioning and check out their great financing to make your investment affordable.