Congratulations on picking out your first home! You are undoubtedly pleased with your investment, though you may feel overloaded by all your new responsibilities. Now that you’re a homeowner, not the renter, it’s your job to care for all your home’s appliances and utility equipment, such as the heating and cooling equipment.
If the only interaction you’ve ever had with a furnace or air conditioner is to change the thermostat, you have plenty to learn. Get a head start with these HVAC system suggestions for new homeowners.
Know the Parts of an HVAC System
HVAC stands for heating, ventilation and air conditioning. Unless you live in an idyllic climate, your new home likely has this system to keep you warm in the winter and cool for the summer. Here are the key parts of an HVAC system:
- Comfort equipment, like an air conditioner, air-source heat pump, furnace, boiler, geothermal heat pump or ductless mini-split, to name a few choices.
- Ductwork fixed to return and supply registers in the case of air-forced systems like ACs, heat pumps and furnaces.
- Radiators or hot water distribution systems such as boilers.
- Indoor air quality solutions, such as an air filter, whole-house humidifier, whole-house dehumidifier, air purifier or energy-recovery ventilator.
- Thermostat for indoor climate control.
Appreciate the Importance of Preventive Maintenance
When you rented, your landlord likely managed any HVAC maintenance tasks like replacing the air filter. They may or may not have foot the bill for comprehensive heating and cooling inspections.
Now that you’re in charge, you can offer preventive maintenance the attention it deserves. First, prioritize these do-it-yourself HVAC maintenance tasks:
- Swap out the air filter every 30 to 90 days.
- Carefully hose down the outdoor unit and trim back vegetation to improve airflow.
- Keep all air registers open to maintain proper system balance.
Then, request annual maintenance for each HVAC unit. Only a trained professional can perform in-depth tasks like cleaning the furnace burners, recharging the AC refrigerant and identifying air leaks in the ductwork. Anticipate the following perks when you hire a professional to inspect your system once a year:
- Energy savings
- Fewer breakdowns
- Lower repair bills
- Superior home comfort
- Extended system life span
- Peace of mind
Look Out for Signs of Trouble
Repairing and replacing the HVAC system is the homeowner’s responsibility. Watch for these signs that it’s time to contact a heating and cooling professional:
- Excessive noise: Don’t ignore a whining, rattling, clanking or banging sound. It might be a cry for help from your furnace or air conditioner.
- Comfort or air quality problems: Erratic temperatures, high or low humidity, stagnant rooms and moldy odors are regularly tied to malfunctioning HVAC equipment.
- Low energy efficiency: Are your bills mysteriously going up? This can mean your heating and cooling system isn’t working properly.
- Old age: Like all mechanical equipment, HVAC systems ultimately fail. The standard life span of a furnace or boiler is 15 years, while air conditioners and heat pumps run just about a decade.
Understand the HVAC Replacement Process
If a finicky furnace or air conditioner can’t be repaired, you’ll need to replace it with an HVAC contractor’s help. Here’s how this works:
- Illustrate the problem to the contractor and permit them to investigate it more in-depth.
- The technician will next diagnose the problem and offer available solutions. A repair might be doable, but based on the unit’s condition and age, a replacement may be more cost-effective.
- You can obtain numerous opinions and estimates from available contractors if you so choose.
- When you work with Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning, a residential sales consultant will determine what HVAC system, brand, fuel type and efficiency rating is perfect for you.
- The contractor will supply you with a written estimate detailing the work needed, the equipment they’ll install and the overall cost. You should also be given information about warranty coverage, service plans and financing options.
- Schedule the installation once you decide what system you want. Your contractor will take care of everything, including hauling away the old equipment for appropriate disposal.
- The sales consultant can walk through the new system with you, describing how to use it, answering any questions and giving you all the required documentation.
Call Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning
If you have questions about these HVAC system basics, don’t hesitate to call Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning. We focus on customer education to help you make the best decision about your heating and cooling system. Our team is experienced in a full array of HVAC services, so give us a call for everything from furnace maintenance to AC repair to heat pump installation. For more information or to request an estimate, please
contact your local Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning office today.