The Halloween season is upon us! This time of year, both kids and adults indulge in a few enjoyable scares. However, while imaginary ghouls and goblins may be fun, there are some very real-world scares most homeowners probably want to avoid.
For instance, a lot can go wrong if you don’t practice effective HVAC maintenance. To avoid major problems, it’s important to stay on top of upkeep and schedule HVAC repair service when necessary.
The following are key reasons why:
The Scary Consequences of Poor AC Maintenance
- High Energy Bills
- Wear-and-Tear
- Refrigerant Leaks
- Inconsistent Cooling
- Poor Indoor Air Quality
- Unpleasant Odors
- Component Failure
Many key AC maintenance tasks (such as changing your filters regularly) serve to ensure the system operates as efficiently as possible. When you don’t perform these tasks regularly, the system will need to use more energy to keep your home at the desired temperature.
The result? Much higher utility bills than expected. This is an important reason maintaining your HVAC system saves you money in the long run.
Being forced to use more energy to cool your home burdens your system, causing it to break down unexpectedly.
You don’t want that to happen. It’s no secret Florida temperatures can get pretty high. Although our company offers 24-hour emergency AC repair, you still don’t want to find yourself without AC in the middle of a heatwave. Even with emergency help from a trusted AC repair company, you’ll be very uncomfortable until the necessary work is performed.
It’s also worth noting that no AC system lasts forever. The more wear-and-tear yours goes through, the shorter its lifespan will be. This is yet another example of why proper upkeep is good for your wallet. If you don’t stay on top of AC repairs and maintenance, you’ll need to replace your AC system earlier than you would have if you perform regular upkeep.
Refrigerant plays a crucial role in your HVAC system. As the name implies, it helps to generate cool air. Unfortunately, failure to maintain your HVAC system properly can result in refrigerant leaks.
This doesn’t merely prevent your system from cooling your home. Refrigerant can be dangerous if you’re exposed to it without the proper protective gear. Thus, you should always contact an HVAC maintenance company the moment you suspect you have a refrigerant leak.
A system doesn’t need to break down entirely to stop working as it should. There are plenty of instances in which an HVAC system that hasn’t been maintained provides inconsistent cooling. It may work sporadically, or it may only cool parts of your home.
This obviously prevents you from being as comfortable as possible. That’s important to remember. Properly maintaining your AC is a favor you’re doing for yourself. It’s key to staying comfortable in your own home.
Don’t neglect your ductwork when performing HVAC maintenance. Many contaminants can accumulate within it if you don’t clean it regularly. When your system is operating, these contaminants may get distributed throughout your home. Your comfort (and potentially your health) will suffer as a result of poor indoor air quality. Avoid this by coordinating with experts to keep your ductwork clean.
Failing to clean your ductwork can also lead to unpleasant odors. This may occur if an animal gets inside. Odors typically occur during hot Florida summers, when animals take refuge from the heat in your ductwork. Unfortunately, they sometimes can’t find their way back out. They’ll eventually die, leaving behind an odor you’ll definitely notice.
You already know that poor HVAC maintenance may cause your system to fail entirely. However, even if this doesn’t happen, individual components may fail earlier than expected due to poor upkeep. Such components include compressors, condenser coils, and other parts of the system that play essential roles.
Your AC won’t be able to cool your home properly if these critical components aren’t working. Additionally, you may need to replace them if they fail.
What You Can Do to Prevent Scary HVAC Problems
Knowing the importance of HVAC maintenance isn’t the same as knowing how to perform it. If you need help with this task, it’s a good idea to coordinate with our HVAC maintenance company. While assessing your system, our technicians will gladly answer your questions, helping you better understand how to perform effective upkeep.
In the meantime, however, it helps to brush up on some basic HVAC maintenance tips. They include:
Changing Your Filters
Dirty filters block airflow. Your AC needs to use more energy to cool your home when this happens. Again, the result will be high bills and a system that may be prone to sudden breakdowns.
Insulating Your Home
Some basic home maintenance tasks also double as HVAC upkeep tasks. For instance, keeping your home insulated and sealed is key to keeping cool air inside. Doing so prevents you from needing to run the AC excessively.
On that topic, it’s also important not to run your AC at times when doing so is unnecessary. If you’re going out, unless it’s a very warm day and you want to return to a cool home, it’s best to turn your system off. If you keep your AC system running all the time, you’ll overburden it.
Scheduling Inspections with an AC Maintenance Company
Make a point of coordinating with your AC repair company to schedule regular inspections. While there are some maintenance tasks you can perform yourself, it’s also crucial that experts get the opportunity to take a closer look. They’ll let you know what additional steps you can take to optimize your system’s efficiency and lifespan.
We at Easy A/C want to wish homeowners throughout the Tampa Bay area a Happy Halloween season. The season will, of course, be a lot more enjoyable if your AC is functioning properly. If it’s not, we’re on hand to help. Contact us online to learn more.