A Little TLC Now Can Avoid A Lot Of Terror Later
It’s a hot, humid night as you step up to your front door. You walk into the dark house, every footstep creaking against the hardwood floor. You immediately get a sense that something isn’t right. You look around, trying to find the source of your discomfort. Using your phone as a flashlight you move from room to room, certain you’re going to find someone… or something… lurking in the shadows. But there’s nothing there. You think about how it feels just as hot inside as it did outside. Then you hear it… GREE GREE GREE GREE GREE GREE GREE…...
No, it’s not the soundtrack from a Friday the 13th movie. It’s the sound of your home’s HVAC system screeching as it fails!
Let’s face it - there hasn’t been a movie monster yet as terrifying as the prospect of a high air conditioning repair bill. Lucky for you, you don’t need holy water or a proton pack to protect yourself. All it takes is being a little proactive to take care of your HVAC system so it can take care of you.
Below are a few things you can do to keep the AC spooks out of your home.
1) Replace Your Air Filter
Look, everyone knows it’s easy to forget little things like this in the hustle and bustle of everyday life, but it is vital to make sure you’re changing your HVAC air filters regularly, preferably around once per month but at least once every 3 months. Much like you’d take a decongestant if you were sick and felt clogged up, a clean air filter helps your HVAC breathe easy, which means your indoor air quality is good and it doesn’t have to work nearly as hard to keep your temperature steady.
A clean filter can help protect internal components from damage caused by dust, debris or poltergeists, and clean coils will be able to absorb more of the heat. It’s the simplest thing you can do to take care of your HVAC and it can save you loads of time (and money) in the long run.
2) Inspect Your Outdoor Equipment
Part of your HVAC system will always have to be exposed to the elements to work properly, but you can do your part to make sure it stays in good shape. You should regularly check to make sure there aren’t any bushes or tree branches rubbing up against it - a good 2-3 feet of clearance around your unit is ideal, so trim them back if you need to. It’s also important to keep leaves, grass or other debris (or spider webs!) away from your outdoor unit; letting it get filthy can choke off your system just as badly as a dirty air filter.
3) Check Your Thermostat
Thermostats are the BRAINS of your HVAC system and making sure they are working properly should be a focus of any HVAC maintenance plan.
If your thermostat runs on batteries, the simplest thing you can do is replace those batteries regularly so it doesn’t run out of juice. But an even better idea is to invest in a smart thermostat. They will allow you to program different temperatures for different time periods (even via your phone when you’re away from home); this more granular control can help reduce the workload on your HVAC which, in turn, will keep it running smoothly.
It’s also important not to try and “turbocharge” your cooling; if you want the temperature at 72, don’t set it to 66 so it will get there faster. Set it to 72 and be patient while your HVAC does the rest.
4) Blinds and Drapes
Are you gone for most of the day? You can help keep your home cooler and ease your HVAC’s workload if you make sure all of your blinds and drapes are closed before you leave. In fact, while we all enjoy (and need) sunlight, it’s a good idea to keep them closed in rooms you aren’t actively using. If you can talk a few wraiths into covering the windows for you as well, even better.
5) Get Your System Tuned Up
The above steps are all things you can take care of yourself, but for an extra layer of protection and insurance against HVAC breakdowns, you need to bring in professionals to perform annual AC maintenance so minor issues can be fixed before they turn into catastrophic problems.
So who ya gonna call? No, not the Ghostbusters… R.S. Andrews!
Our skilled technicians can check your system from top to bottom, diagnose anything out of the ordinary, and take the steps needed to fix them.
Don’t let a lack of proper maintenance haunt your HVAC system. Call R.S. Andrews today at (843) 474-6701 or message us online. We promise: no tricks, only a treat - the treat of a perfectly functioning home HVAC system keeping you and your family comfortable.