Can You Extend the Life of the HVAC System in Your Home?

Your home’s HVAC system is likely its most expensive component, but with the proper care and maintenance, extending the life of your unit is fairly easy and affordable. Keeping air filters clean, air pressure at its specified level and performing routine maintenance checks all go a long way toward keeping HVAC systems in top running condition. 

• Pay attention to the air filter. When your system is running on a regular basis, check the filter for the air handler monthly. Nothing lowers the life of your equipment and drives up energy consumption faster than a dirty filter. When it’s clogged, airflow slows and it will have to work longer and harder to reach the thermostat’s setting.
• If you use a heat pump, inspect the condition of your outdoor condenser throughout the year. The condenser has a coil inside that pulls heat from the air during the winter. If you notice the coil inside the condenser is covered with dust or grass clippings, gently hose it off. Keeping the condenser and its coil clean goes a long way towards extending the life of both heat pumps and central air conditioners.
• Have your system serviced annually. HVAC professionals can check your entire system, cleaning and adjusting various components. They’ll bring it back to factory standards as much as possible, improving energy efficiency and longevity. If you use a gas furnace, this maintenance check will ensure that all safety switches work and that the air-to-gas ratio for the ignition and combustion components are set properly.
• Avoid the temptation to close off registers for unused rooms. Closing registers can block airflow to a room and increase ductwork pressure. Modern HVAC equipment requires a fairly precise amount of air to operate optimally. Increased pressure can harm ductwork, creating leaks that drive up energy consumption and running time.

The pros at CCAC can help you extend the life of your HVAC system with professional maintenance. We provide exceptional HVAC services for homeowners in the Corpus Christi area.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Corpus Christi, Texas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about HVAC systems and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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