HVAC System Basics for New Homeowners

Congrats on purchasing your first home! You are undoubtedly pleased with your investment, although you may also feel weighed down by all the new responsibilities. Now that you’re a homeowner, not the renter, it’s your job to maintain all your home’s appliances and utility equipment, including the heating and cooling equipment.

If the only interaction you’ve ever come across with a furnace or air conditioner is to change the thermostat, you have plenty to learn. Try these HVAC system tips for new homeowners.

Know the Parts of an HVAC System

HVAC stands for heating, ventilation and air conditioning. Unless you live in a perpetually comfortable climate, your new home most likely has this system to keep you warm through the winter and cool throughout the summer. Here are the key parts of an HVAC system:

• Comfort equipment, like an air conditioner, air-source heat pump, furnace, boiler, geothermal heat pump or ductless mini-split, to name a few options.
• Ductwork attached to return and supply registers when it comes to air-forced systems including ACs, heat pumps and furnaces.
• Radiators or hot water distribution systems in the case of boilers.
• Indoor air quality products, like an air filter, whole-house humidifier, whole-house dehumidifier, air purifier or energy-recovery ventilator.
• Thermostat for indoor climate control.

Appreciate the Importance of Preventive Maintenance

When you rented, a landlord most likely took care of HVAC maintenance tasks like replacing the air filter. They may or may not have foot the bill for comprehensive heating and cooling inspections.

Now that you’re taking care of things, you can give preventive maintenance the attention it deserves. First, prioritize these do-it-yourself HVAC maintenance tasks:

• Swap out the air filter every 30 to 90 days.
• Gently hose down the outdoor unit and cut back vegetation to improve airflow.
• Keep all air registers open to sustain proper system balance.

Then, schedule yearly maintenance for each HVAC unit. Only a qualified professional can perform in-depth tasks like cleaning the furnace burners, recharging the AC refrigerant and gauging air leaks in the ductwork. Anticipate the following advantages when you get a professional to inspect your system annually:

• Energy savings
• Fewer breakdowns
• More affordable repair bills
• Enhanced home comfort
• Extended system life span
• Peace of mind

Keep an Eye Out for Signs of Trouble

Repairing and replacing the HVAC system is the homeowner’s job. Watch for these signs that it’s time to call a heating and cooling contractor:

• Loud noise: Don’t dismiss a screeching, rattling, clanking or banging sound. It might be a cry for help from the furnace or air conditioner.
• Comfort or air quality issues: Uneven temperatures, high or low humidity, stuffy rooms and mold-like smells are regularly linked to defective HVAC equipment.
• Reduced energy efficiency: Are your bills unexpectedly increasing? This could mean your heating and cooling system isn’t running properly.
• Old age: Like all mechanical systems, HVAC systems ultimately fail. The typical life span of a furnace or boiler is 15 years, while air conditioners and heat pumps last around a decade.

Learn More About the HVAC Replacement Process

If your damaged furnace or air conditioner can’t be fixed, you’ll need to replace it with an HVAC specialist’s help. Here’s how that works:

• Describe the problem to your technician and permit them to investigate it more in-depth.
• The professional will next diagnose the problem and offer available solutions. A repair may be feasible, but based on the unit’s condition and age, a replacement may be more cost-effective.
• You can acquire numerous opinions and estimates from available contractors if you want.
• When you contact Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning, a residential sales consultant will go over what HVAC system, brand, fuel type and efficiency rating is ideal for you.
• The technician should supply you with a written estimate detailing the work required, the equipment they’ll install and the total price. You should also be given details about warranty coverage, service plans and financing options.
• Schedule the installation as soon as you figure out what system you want. Your technician will handle everything, like hauling away the old equipment for appropriate disposal.
• The sales consultant will walk through the new system with you, describing how to use it, addressing any questions and giving you all the necessary documentation.

Call Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning

If you have questions about these HVAC system guidelines, get in touch with Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning. We focus on customer education to help you make an educated decision about your home comfort system. Our team is proficient in a full array of HVAC services, so give us a call for everything from furnace maintenance to AC repair to heat pump installation. For more information or to request an estimate, please get in touch with your local Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning office today.