HVAC Guide For New Home Owners
Hvac Guide For New Home Owners.
Have you recently bought a new home? That’s great news! Perhaps, this is not the first time you have bought one. Whether it is your first time or fourth, there are a few things that you should take care of in your new home.
The heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system or the HVAC provides heating and cooling to residential buildings. If you have one installed at your home, you must take care of a few things. To ensure that the system remains in a good and functioning condition you need to conduct yearly tune-ups.
Apart from the annual maintenance, you need to take care of a few other things as well. To ensure the HVAC system’s optimal working we have formulated an HVAC guide that is a must-read for new homeowners.
Know Your HVAC System Better
Be it an air conditioner, a water heater, boiler, or a heat pump; you should be aware of how it works to understand how the house gets cooled or heated. There are a few things that you must be aware of about your HVAC System.
- Efficiency Rating: The heating and cooling system installed in your home has some specific ratings, as listed below.
- Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency or Heating Seasonal Performance Factor.
- Energy Efficiency Ratio or Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio.
- A highly efficient system has a higher rating and vice versa.
- Unit’s Age: If the home that you have purchased is five to ten years old there is a chance that the HVAC system installed is old too. You should find out your HVAC system’s age and plan to get it replaced with a new one if it is too old. An old system requires relatively high maintenance and breaks down often.
- Warranty: If your new home’s HVAC system is still in warranty read through the terms and conditions of the warranty carefully. If you have recently bought a new HVAC system understand the terms properly so that it doesn’t become void because of a minor mistake.
- Inspection Reports: You should ask the former owner to provide you with the HVAC inspection reports. These reports prove that the HVAC system has gone through annual maintenance and you can learn about any problems previously reported. These reports will also help you understand what kind of performance to expect from the system.
Maintain Your Grounds
Make sure the area around your HVAC system is well-maintained so that the system can operate efficiently. You should always keep your plants, shrubs, and all other foliage at least two feet away from the HVAC system’s outdoor unit. Also, all garden tools should be kept away. In case dirt and dust fall on your HVAC system, get it cleaned as soon as possible.
Change Filters When Required
Changing the HVAC system’s filters on time and when required will help you keep it in working condition. Manufacturers recommend changing filters after a regular interval. A few systems are equipped with alarms that will remind you to get your filters changed when it’s time.
Even if you have a unit in the attic you should get its filter changed too. An unclean filter will disrupt the cooling or heating system. Moreover, dirty filters reduce the system’s life expectancy, and its efficiency is hampered. If required, get your filters changed even during the summer season.
Check The Ductwork Of your Home
If you experience a musty smell in your home, if it feels extra humid, you experience fluctuating temperatures, or if you are receiving extremely high bills, get your ductwork inspected. These are the signs that something is wrong with your ductwork. It would help if you got it inspected by a team of specialists as soon as possible. If your ductwork has leaks, then the performance of your HVAC system will be negatively affected.
Do Not Close Your Vents
A few homeowners often close the vents to a few rooms that they don’t use much. As a new homeowner, you should not make the same mistake. Even if you have a few extra rooms, keep the vents open. People do it to save energy costs, but you should know that it doesn’t help save energy costs. It is simply because, when you close the vents, the HVAC system will have to work harder to maintain a consistent temperature level throughout. Because of that it helps if you keep the vents open and you keep the areas near the vents clear of any clutter.
Maintenance Of Your HVAC
Annual maintenance of the HVAC system is critical. You should get your furnace and AC checked every year to know if there are any potential damage. The best time to have your system serviced is during spring or fall. It will help increase the life expectancy and efficiency of your system.
Remove The Ice
During the winter season, call for a professional as soon as you see ice forming on your HVAC system. If your HVAC system develops tiny heaps of ice, large sheets, or blocks of ice, you should get the system assessed by professionals to get to the root cause and protect your HVAC from getting damaged further.
Hire A Professional Company
You should always hire a trusted company for all your HVAC repair and replacement needs. It would be best if you did not wait until there is a severe problem with your system, and you will then have to look for an expert service provider. You should also check if the contractor has been in business for enough years to have the required expertise in the field. Professionals will be able to provide emergency services as well. Reliable and genuine contractors are aware of the tips and tricks to keep your system in perfect working condition.
Conclusion
Owning a new home will give you a sense of security. Though homeownership is exciting, it brings several responsibilities along. Follow the steps mentioned above and take care of your HVAC system to keep it working as expected.