During the chilly winters and scorching summers of the Dothan, AL area, having a healthy, effective HVAC system is imperative. But you can’t necessarily expect your heating and cooling equipment to always run smoothly if you don’t take proper care of it. Ultimately, scheduling professional tune-ups every year is the most important thing you can do to keep your HVAC system in great shape. And in the Greater Dothan area, you can always count on our team at Prime HVAC to handle your yearly HVAC maintenance. However, there are also things you can do between service appointments to ensure that the system keeps performing at its best.
1. Regularly Replace the Air Filters
Whether it’s summer or winter, you should always be regularly replacing your HVAC air filters. Whenever your heater or air conditioner is running, the air filters are trapping a variety of airborne contaminants, such as dust mites, pollen, and mold spores. If you wait too long to switch out the filters, they’ll eventually become clogged with particles. When that happens, it restricts the airflow of your HVAC system, and that will have negative effects on the system’s health, performance, and efficiency. Depending on the type of filters you use and how often you’re running your HVAC system, you should replace them every one to three months.
2. Give the System Regular Rest
With the freezing Dothan winter right around the corner, you may be tempted to have the heat cranked up all day long. However, if you keep your HVAC system running constantly, that’s going to put a lot of strain on the equipment, which can lead to system malfunctions or breakdowns. There’s nothing wrong with keeping the heat on regularly, but giving the system a few hours of rest each day can go a long way toward keeping your HVAC system in great condition. For example, you could turn the heat off when you go to bed each night to give it eight hours of downtime. You could also wear an extra layer of clothing for a few hours each day to stay warm without straining your heater.
3. Clean the Outdoor Unit
If you have a central air or ductless system, then your HVAC system probably features an outdoor condenser unit. Because that unit is exposed to the outside world, it’s common for things like leaves, dirt, and random debris to accumulate on and around it. Sometimes, that dirt and debris can end up between the fins of the condenser coil, which can restrict the airflow of the HVAC system and worsen its overall performance. Fortunately, you can avoid that by taking the time to clean your system’s outdoor unit every month or two. If you find that there’s gunk between the metal fins, you should be able to use a brush to scrub it away or rinse it gently with a hose.
Always Be Proactive
As long as you stay on top of yearly maintenance and cultivate a few good habits, there’s no reason you can’t keep your HVAC system running like new. Ultimately, the better you take care of your heating and cooling units, the better they’ll take care of you and your family when the weather gets harsh. If you need reliable HVAC services in the Dothan area, give us a call at Prime HVAC today!