Christy Pappas
Reno & Northern Nevada Land and Luxury Realtor
775-335-5754
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT HEATING & COOLING IN YOUR HOME
Not Replacing the Filter Regularly
The air filter captures debris and other impurities from the house and prevents them from being cycled back through the furnace.
"Forgetting to regularly replace the air filter can lead to the system working harder," says Brad Roberson, President of Aire Serv Heating & Air Conditioning. "This causes the system to work harder to maintain the set temperature, increasing the utility bill."
The solution, he says, is to replace the air filters every 30 to 90 days, depending on how often the system is used and the needs of the residents.
It also helps to mark a monthly reminder on your online or wall calendar, says Bill Taylor of South Jersey Gas & Elizabethtown Gas.
Neglecting DIY Maintenance
While changing out the HVAC filter is important, it's not the only thing that homeowners can do to maintain their furnace.
Though a HVAC systems and furnace may seem intimidating, there are a number of things that a homeowner can do to maintain their own system:
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Clean the flame sensor: Cleaning the HVAC flame sensor is a 30 minute job that helps the flame run cleaner and more efficiently.
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Clean ductwork: Whole-house duct cleaning is for professionals. But if you have a shop vacuum, you can easily clean visible sections of HVAC ductwork.
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Maintain the condensate pump: The condensate reservoir catches condensed water, and the pump moves it to the exterior. This pump is located on the outside of the furnace. You can remove and clean the reservoir by yourself. If the pump fails, you can replace the pump by yourself.
Avoiding Professional Maintenance
When your home heating system is working well, it's easy to forget that it still needs maintenance. You can do a lot by maintenance by yourself, but not all of it.
Closing Off Unused Rooms
Closing off HVAC registers in unused rooms would appear to be more energy-efficient. But that's not the case, Taylor says
"Many people believe closing vents in unused rooms saves energy, but this actually increases system pressure, causing airflow imbalances," he says. "This will strain the HVAC system and can even lead to leaks or overheating."
The solution, he says, is to keep vents open in all rooms to ensure balanced airflow, which allows the HVAC system to operate efficiently and extends its lifespan.
Using a Fireplace for Heat
Supplementing your HVAC furnace with a fireplace may seem like a wise decision. After all, you're adding to your home heating system with a low-cost energy source: wood.
But using a fireplace alongside HVAC is a heating mistake because most of the heat is concentrated in one area. If that area also happens to be where the thermostat is located, other areas of the home receive no or little heat.
The thermostat recognizes that the desired heating level has been met (by the fireplace), so it short-cycles the furnace or turns it on and off too frequently.