One of the main issues with residential heating systems, regardless of whether it is gas or electric, is always cleanliness, explains Ed Humbert, a Fredericksburg, VA HVAC service technician. In most instances, he continues, it really is an issue of whether or not the system is being maintained on a regular basis. At Complete Mechanical Contracting, this experienced company offers all of its clients a system maintenance program that is specifically designed to make keeping your HVAC system clean. It is all about tuning up your system and keeping it maintained, Humbert notes.
Unfortunately, though many HVAC contractors promote the importance of regular system maintenance, not enough homeowners follow this valuable piece of advice. When you do not keep up with cleanliness it is very likely that the issue will escalate to a lack of system performance and higher energy costs. Many people, Humbert says, ignore their HVAC systems because it is out of sight and they rarely come in contact with it. As long as it works they ignore it. In reality, however, he points out, a heating and cooling system is like your car; if you do not tune it up, its efficiency will go down.
For many, the justification is that paying to have an HVAC system examined twice a year is an unnecessary expense. However, when you let years pass without having it checked out you will come to find that the repairs and replacements that will be needed quickly add up. Any heating and cooling system only works at its highest efficiency when it is performing at its peak, Humbert says. Don’t let the repairs pile up until the problems become so apparent that it is more affordable to replace the unit all together rather than to have them repaired.
If you already have a maintenance schedule in place, Humbert explains that there are a few things that cautious homeowners can do during the months in between. For starters, he says, you should make sure that leaves and debris are not gathered around the outdoor unit, because the piles will make the entire system much less efficient. You should also make sure, Humbert continues, that any outdoor components have been installed in an area that is shaded. Sun beating down on the unit throughout the day increases the costs of operating it at a comfortable temperature. The positioning outside has such an impact that Humbert says you may want to consider having it reinstalled on a side of the house where the sun does not hit it. Of course, if there is ever an issue you feel is worth checking out, or if you are not confident in doing a visual inspection on your own, you should always feel comfortable calling a trusted HVAC company.