Roberts Mechanical

Every aspect of HVAC plays a big role in how healthy you, your home and your environment are. This doesn’t mean you need to rush out and replace a good HVAC system with a brand new, Energy Star model (although you’ll get plenty of benefits if you do!), but you should at least put some effort into maintaining the system you have so that it will perform optimally for you.

One of the biggest oversights homeowners make is not swapping out air filters and not cleaning vents as often as they should. In many instances, changing air filters is a monthly (or more often) task that you can do yourself. Air filters are easy to swap out, inexpensive and are the easiest way to ensure a properly ventilated home. A clogged filter isn’t doing its job, and this means the air you and your family breathe may be contaminated with allergens, dust, debris or even dangerous substances like asbestos fibers from an old home that recently had an attic renovation.

Hot Concerns

Your HVAC system’s heating element is a workhorse in the winter months, and if it’s not maintained it can be a fire hazard at worst and an energy suck at best. If you notice your utility bills skyrocketing at the beginning of November, don’t assume that’s just the price you pay for a toasty home. You may have other issues at play that are allowing heat to escape, like poor insulation in your windows or doors, but it’s best to start at the potential source of the issue: your heater.

Boilers are better at conserving heat than furnaces, but unless you want a major overhaul, you’ll likely stick with whatever type of heating source you have. Make the most of it. Get the heater inspected in early autumn before you really need it.

The Cool-Down Period

Likewise, utility bills can begin to climb in the summer months. Air conditioners, no matter the type, will work as hard as they can to maintain your temperature settings. Be realistic (do you really need it to be 60 degrees when you have 16-foot ceilings?), but also know that potential problems like refrigerant leaks can make your A/C work overtime — and your bills go through the roof.

Since you depend equally on your HVAC in winter and summer but for completely different tasks, it’s best to get a maintenance check in autumn and spring alike. However, it’s your ventilation system that’s at the job steadily year-round. Ask your HVAC technician what maintenance projects you can take on yourself (if any) and the best way to perform them. Call Roberts Mechanical today to schedule an inspection and get an HVAC professional in your corner.