Proper care and attention to heating and cooling systems within your home is essential for your comfort. Preventive maintenance is important not only for the life of the equipment itself, but also for saving energy. This ultimately translates into money saved.

There are other benefits to preventive maintenance, including extending the life and performance of the equipment. You, the homeowner, will save energy, time and money. It’s a win-win situation.

What kinds of things should you look at when doing preventive maintenance?

Filters

You’ll want to include the filters on your heating and cooling equipment in any preventive maintenance. These should generally be checked every three months or so and changed when dirty. Filters help protect the inner workings of equipment, and, without them, dirt can get into the system and clog coils.

Duct Cleaning

Cleaning out dirt and debris from air ducts can also be helpful. This prevents dust from working its way through your house, but will also protect your heating and cooling equipment. There is some debate over whether duct cleaning is truly necessary, but, as recommended by the EPA, if ducts visibly contain mold, excessive dust or vermin activity, it is highly recommend that they be cleaned. In the case of fiberglass or flexible ductwork, replacing it may be your better option.

Sealing

One of the most effective things that can be done to improve energy efficiency and comfort is to seal the home. This means looking at the outer “envelope” of the home: the doors, windows, ceilings and floors.

Caulk, foam spray or weather stripping can be used around windows and doors. Adding insulation to the attic is one of the most effective ways to seal a home. Finally, an average of 20 percent of air that moves through the ducts is typically lost to leaks. Sealing ducts can greatly improve the operating efficiency of heating and cooling systems.

Preventive maintenance, looking at filters, ducts and sealing, is a must for every homeowner annually. For more energy-saving tips, download our free ebook Home Comfort guide.

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

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