Are you guilty of bad homeowner HVAC habits? Here are seven deadly sins that could affect the lifespan and efficiency of your heating and cooling equipment.
1. Constantly adjusting the thermostat
Start-up and shut-down is the most wearing part of your air conditioner or gas furnace’s job. When you are constantly adjusting the thermostat, on and off cycles can be much more frequent.
2. Planting too close to your equipment
Blocked airflow is a killer for efficiency and performance. Placing outdoor plants too close to your equipment can block airflow — or worse — grow into and affect components, leading to costly emergency repair.
3. Closing registers and vents
Heating and cooling equipment is designed for a certain amount of space. When you close registers and vents, or block them with furniture, you are altering the amount of space to be heated or cooled. This makes your system act like it is improperly sized, which can lead to longer run times, a frozen evaporator coil and shorter system life.
4. Using a condenser cover
Condenser covers can affect airflow – decreasing the life of your system, lengthening run times and affecting your overall comfort.
5. Forgetting to change the furnace filter
A dirty filter can block airflow and significantly lower the quality of your indoor air. Disposable filters can be inexpensive and relatively easy to change out. At the very least, change your filter every season.
6. DIY repairs, maintenance and installation
There is a reason why technicians go to school, attend additional trainings and carry licenses. HVAC systems are complicated pieces of equipment and require a skilled hand for installation, maintenance and repairs. So, save yourself money in the long run and leave it to the professionals.
7. Not scheduling preventative maintenance
Neglecting maintenance is the worst habit of all! Make sure to have your air conditioner looked at in the spring and your gas furnace in the fall to catch minor issues before they become big ones. Your service technician will make sure that your equipment is running as efficiently as possible, saving you money during the peak season. Barron makes it even easier with a Silver Shield maintenance agreement – never forget your preventative maintenance again!
Have you scheduled your annual Silver Shield preventative maintenance yet? Contact Barron Heating today! 1-800-328-7774