Three Tips to Increase your HVAC System’s Life

Depending on factors previously discussed, most industry experts would agree that the average lifespan of a unit is roughly 15 years for our region. However, it is not uncommon to see 20 year old units operating well. This is often the direct result of regular tune-ups, proper scheduling and unobstructed air flow to the system.

Preventive Maintenance contracts – Regular maintenance is essential to keep your system running its best. By forgoing this maintenance, the owner is doing a large disservice to himself; while he may save money for the first few years, he will all but certainly pay much more in the long run when major components break or the lifespan is shortened significantly. These contracts are typically performed quarterly for commercial/industrial equipment, or semi-annually for residential equipment.

So what does a contract entail? Filter changes, belt changes, coil cleans, multi-meter readings on electrical components, pressure/leak checks, condensate lines, drain pans, to name a few. Per the Department of Energy, exchanging your old, dirty air filter with a new one can reduce your unit’s energy consumption by up to 15%. The purpose of these contracts is to repair any existing minor problems at minimal cost before the issue has the chance to escalate.

Energy saving thermostats – Today, there are a myriad of smart thermostats that can reduce your energy bills while simultaneously improving your system’s life. These thermostats – many of which are programmable or allow the user to adjust the temperature from a phone or computer – reduce your system’s load by allowing the user to run the system when they are home and vice versa.

For commercial and industrial businesses, installing a building control system can be extremely beneficial. Such a system will allow proper HVAC scheduling that is adjustable to the owner’s needs, as well as monitoring of most all other electrical and mechanical systems within the building.

Get air to the condenser – Often overlooked but equally important is to get proper air flow to your outside condensing unit. While many homeowners like to hide their air conditioners behind bushes, trees or partitions, this actually restricts air flow to the unit. When this occurs, the air conditioner is forced to work hard, thus drawing more amps and, over the long run, can lead to compressor issues. To compound this issue, leaves and mowed grass from the surrounding landscaping can also get sucked to the unit, consequently reducing airflow even further.

While these are a few of the common solutions, there are still numerous others, such as installing high efficiency units, checking for air leaks within the structure and having proper ventilation. Still having air conditioning troubles? Call the pros today!