3 Common Mistakes Homeowners Make
Why not start the new year on the best foot and resolve to maintain the home the way one should to prevent costly repairs later and improve the quality of life for the family? The cost of repairs has skyrocketed mostly because the cost of materials to make repairs have skyrocketed. Businesses are forced to raise their prices which impacts customers. Save time, money, and frustration by maintaining heating and cooling systems routinely and consistently.
#1: Not Routinely Replacing the Air Filter
Manufacturers recommend replacing air filters at least once every 90 days to maintain the central heating system properly. If there are pets in the home or someone living in the home that is allergic to dust, dander, or other common household allergens, it is recommended to change the filter once every 30 days.
Clogged air filters can cause the home to smell musty or cause increased energy bills because the unit is working overtime to maintain the internal temperature. One can discard used air filters with the regular trash.
#2: Closing Air Vents
Closing vents can restrict airflow to the point that coils freeze or ductwork can break and send air into areas of the home that don’t need to be heated or cooled, like the basement or attic. This causes utility bills to be much higher than expected and requires a licensed central air conditioning technician to visit the home and evaluate what repairs are necessary.
The HVAC in the home is intentionally sized for the entire home, not individual rooms. If the system is not used in the way it was designed, this decreases the efficiency of the installed equipment. Closing air vents can also damage the heat exchanger and cause a carbon monoxide release into the home.
#3: Skipping Recommended Maintenance
A home heating and air conditioning system should be routinely inspected once per year per system. Routine AC maintenance can allow a technician to spot potential problems even if the system seems to be operating properly.
Identifying problems early can keep repair costs low and get the equipment back to operating efficiently quickly rather than having an outage that could take days to fix. Fires could be a hazard from units that haven’t been maintained routinely or properly. Heat pump malfunctions or frayed wiring that could lead to fires could be identified by a technician during a maintenance inspection and could save lives.
About Boutwell’s Air Masters
Boutwell’s Air Masters, located in Pensacola, FL, offer full HVAC solutions for whole-home comfort. Easy installation and repair or hassle-free maintenance plans with easy filter replacements give homeowners peace of mind and make Boutwell’s Air Masters the go-to HVAC company! Call now for HVAC services.
