Having issues with your heating or cooling systems is more than a drag—it’s a crisis. When you wake up on a frigid morning to find that your furnace isn’t on and your teeth are chattering beneath your blanket, it’s not a good day. Likewise, when you find yourself sweltering on a hot summer day with an air conditioner that just won’t cool your house, you may find yourself more than a little upset.
We tend to take heating systems and air conditioners for granted. After all, who notices the air? It’s just there. The thing is, though, that maintenance for your heating or cooling systems is a crucial part of being a homeowner. As you’ll read below, there are some HVAC maintenance projects that you can do yourself. That being said, sometimes the best way to maintain or fix a heat pump or a leak is just to call a professional technician. Read on to learn about some DIY maintenance projects you can use to keep your HVAC system up and running. For anything else, calling a technician is a good idea.
1. Seal the gaps in your doors and windows to minimize airflow.
Simply put, you don’t want cold air coming in through gaps in your windows or doors when you’re trying to heat the house. Similarly, you don’t want hot air making its way in when you’ve got your air conditioner running full blast. That just ends up costing you an arm and a leg in energy costs. Plus, those leaks are pretty inexpensive and easy to fix on your own. All you need is some basic home tools and weatherstripping that can be acquired at a hardware store. If you feel nervous about taking off your doors to install weatherstripping on your own, you can call installers to do it for you.
2. Change the air filters on a regular basis.
HVAC systems with dirty filters are working much harder than systems with clear vents, and filters are super easy to change on your own. You can buy up a bunch of filters in bulk and have them ready to go if you sense that your HVAC system is struggling to get by. This is the type of regular maintenance that goes a long way in keeping your HVAC healthier for longer and helps you save on energy costs as well.
3. Check your circuit breaker and your thermostat.
Sometimes the electrical system just can’t handle the strain that your air conditioner is putting on it, especially on days with extreme temperatures. Sometimes the thermostat has run out of batteries, and all you need is to change them to get your HVAC up and running again. While these seem too simple to be true, the truth is that many people call out professional contractors instead of using simple problem-solving skills to save the money it costs to hire a professional. If your air conditioner isn’t working or your heating system is conked out, the first thing to do is check the circuit breaker and the thermostat.
4. Clear debris away from the HVAC unit or vents.
Similar to the dirty filter conundrum, having debris up against your unit or its vents gets in the way of it doing what it should. Sometimes it’s a matter of leaves or freshly cut grass blocking the vents if you have an outdoor unit. If this is the case, you can get a better working unit and lower utility bills just by putting the leaves in a bag and disposing of them.
Taking care of your home is part of the everyday life of any homeowner, and it’s fun, too! Learning to do DIY fixed on your property can become one of many hobbies that raise your IQ, just like puzzles, sudoku, or learning a new language. By taking on these DIY home puzzles as your new hobby, you’re getting better indoor air quality and increased cognitive abilities and IQ. That’s pretty much a win-win situation, so get out there and learn the new skills today!
