Keeping Your HVAC System Safe and Efficient
With cooler weather approaching, you need to have regular HVAC maintenance done so that your unit will work more efficiently. Now is also a good time to make certain that your unit is as safe as it possibly can be. You can help protect your family and keep your furnace and air conditioner in good condition by taking some common-sense actions.
Space
When your unit is first installed, it's important to place it in a large enough area to provide adequate ventilation. Your heating and cooling system needs to draw in enough air to work correctly. In addition, the system needs to have enough room around it that HVAC professionals can easily access it to make repairs or perform routine maintenance. You may be tempted to tuck it into a small corner to keep it out of sight, but it will work better if it has adequate space.
Storage
You also need to keep the area around the unit clean and unobstructed for several reasons. You do not want dirt and grit to be sucked into the HVAC system and spread throughout the house. Also, leaving anything flammable nearby could put your family in danger. If your unit is in the garage, keep cans of gasoline or paint sealed and far away from it. Also, don't block the airflow with your vehicles. Park several feet away from the unit even if it is on a raised platform. If your furnace and laundry area are one and the same, keep the detergent and bleach sealed and as far as possible from the burner. Also, don't allow laundry to block the airflow of the system.
Operation
Experts recommend that you do not shut more than 20% of your home's registers because it can cause a heat buildup in your furnace that could be problematic. Also, change the filters regularly and have the HVAC professionals check your system once a year. If your furnace is dirty and not running well, this can cause the release of deadly carbon monoxide into your home.
Every year, you hear the warnings about HVAC maintenance, so you may tend to tune them out. However, your furnace's efficiency and your family's safety depend on your taking care of your HVAC unit. Invest a day every fall in making sure that your furnace area is clean and uncluttered. Remove dangerous substances from near the unit, and don't forget to call a professional such as United Heating Cooling and Plumbing Inc in for an appointment.