3 HVAC Maintenance Tasks That Can Be Safely DIY

Are you considering DIY HVAC maintenance? Regularly maintaining your system plays a significant role in your monthly energy costs and the lifespan of your system. However, your air conditioning and heating system is an expensive, complex machine, so it is essential to know what you are doing when performing maintenance tasks. Fortunately, there are a few maintenance needs that can be safely performed by homeowners to ensure efficient operation and safeguard system life.

What HVAC Maintenance Tasks Can I Perform Myself?

• Regular air filter changes.
  Replace your home air filter every 30-90 days, at a minimum. Homes with children and pets, and areas under construction could require more frequent changes. To change your filter, be sure to turn off your system, taking out your old filter and inserting a new one before turning it back on. To improve indoor air quality and catch more dust and debris, talk to your local HVAC technician about upgrading to a high-efficiency air cleaner. Find high quality home air filters here.
• Cleaning vents and registers.
  Vacuuming slats with brush and wiping down the surface of vents and registers removes dust and debris, ensuring efficient airflow and keeping the air in your home cleaner.
• Clearing weeds and debris around the outdoor unit.
  Grass and weed overgrowth, as well as trash and foreign objects piled around your outdoor unit, can dramatically impact performance, causing your system to work harder. It is essential to keep at least a 2-foot zone surrounding your unit clear to eliminate fire hazards and ensure proper airflow.
• Check and replace thermostat batteries.
  This quick and easy task can prevent the need for an emergency run for replacement batteries. We recommend changing them on a schedule with the batteries in your fire alarm and carbon monoxide detectors. Is your thermostat so old it doesn’t have backup batteries?  It’s definitely time for a thermostat upgrade.
• Keep an ear open for strange noises.
  Strange noises indoors or out could indicate trapped debris, loose hardware, and electrical issues that could cause system damage. If you hear anything unusual or new, calling your local HVAC service professional sooner, rather than later, could prevent the need for more extensive (and expensive) repairs.

Tasks You Should NEVER Perform Yourself

These HVAC maintenance tasks are dangerous – either for your lifespan or your system’s – and best left to a pro like H & H:

• Anything involving electrical.
  Your system is high-voltage, operating between 220-240 volts and requiring a dedicated circuit to run. This amount of voltage can injure or even kill someone with insufficient electrical experience.
• Project requiring specialty tools.
  If you don’t own a multimeter, leak detector, or refrigeration system analyzer and know how to use them, you should leave maintenance tasks requiring them to the pros.
• Anything involving refrigerants.
  Refrigerants are hazardous to your health and the environment. They can also be explosive.

Maintain your warranty and keep your heating and air conditioning system operating a peak performance with the help of H & H Heating & Air Conditioning. Contact us to schedule your routine annual maintenance today.

This blog was originally posted on https://www.delcohvac.com/3-hvac-maintenance-tasks-that-can-be-safely-diy/