You know how much I believe in annual HVAC maintenance and tune-ups. A visit by a professional Merts Heating & Cooling technician is the best way to keep your Illinois or Northwest Indiana home comfortable year-round. They have the training to inspect and repair the complicated electrical and mechanical systems that heat and cool your home or business.
What you can do to help
Regular maintenance is certainly a team project. There are many things you can do as a homeowner to make the technicians job easier and make sure your expensive HVAC systems last as long as possible.
Upgrade your filter
Invest in the new high-efficiency pleated filters. They have an electrostatic charge that acts like a magnet to grab tiny particles, even those that carry bacteria.
Replace the filter regularly
At a minimum it should be changed every 90 days but it’s a good idea to check it every month. If it looks dirty, then change it. Monthly changes are a good idea if you have pets in the house.
Maintain a two-foot clearance around outdoor compressors
This means keeping landscaping shrubs trimmed and invasive weeds removed.
Clean up debris
This includes leaves, branches, and dirt. Don’t blow grass clippings onto your air conditioner or heat pump while mowing the lawn.
Inspect refrigerant lines
Replace any damaged insulation. If you are not comfortable doing it yourself make sure to let the technician know about it during his regular maintenance.
Units should be level
Air conditioners and heat pumps operate best when they are level. They should be sitting on a solid pad or concrete slab. Again, if you’re unable to do this be sure to alert your technician.
Prevent condensate clogs
Every year you should pour a cup of bleach/water mixture through the condensate drain. This helps prevent clogged drain lines which can lead to water damage.
Leave the rest to the professionals
All of the above steps are important and a great start, but complete HVAC maintenance on modern heating and cooling systems is not something homeowners are capable of doing. Call Merts Heating & Air Conditioning now to schedule spring maintenance for the cooling system in your Illinois or Northwest Indiana home. Be sure to like and follow us on Facebook and Twitter for more great information like this.