It’s that time of the year in Jacksonville, FL – temperatures are dropping, and winter is on our heels. Are you prepared? Or better yet, is your heating and cooling system ready? The last thing you need to deal with during a cold winter day is a broken heating system. Like all appliances, there are preventative measures you can take to extend the lifetime and working power of your heating and cooling system. These 5 steps will ensure that you avoid waking up in the middle of the night, freezing from the frosty air, and frantically online searching for heat and cooling repair near me.
- Clean Your Unit
- Check the Wiring and Fan
While the power to your heating and cooling system is off, check the connections. Remove the access panel on your unit and take a look at all the wires in your unit; some may have melted insulation or might look charred and burned. Additionally, check all electrical connections to ensure they are tight and secure, and don’t forget to check the fan. If you do not feel comfortable replacing any components, Google “heat and cooling repair near me” for assistance. - Clean or Replace Your Filter
A simple way to ensure your heating and cooling systems run efficiently and safely are to clean or replace the air filter. These filters, which usually sit between the primary return vent and the system’s main intake, are designed to trap any dirt, dust, and airborne particles that pass through. It doesn’t take long until the filter has a thick layer of grime built upon it, which decreases the airflow, requiring you to search for “heat and cooling repair near me.” - Test the Thermostat
If your thermostat is an older, mechanical model, consider searching to have a “heat and cooling repair company near me” update it to a programmable one. This will allow you to better control your heating and cooling system, even when you aren’t at home. - Call the Experts
If you feel overwhelmed by the maintenance your heat and cooling system requires, it’s probably time to call in the pros. Consider it an investment in prolonging the longevity of your unit. A quick google search for “heat and cooling repair near me” will show you the professional help in your area. An HVAC pro can check your entire system from top to bottom for issues, can notice abnormally low air pressure, can clean the areas of your unit you cannot reach, will analyze your electricity usage for any oddities, and more! Contact us for more details.
If your Heating and Cooling System is dirty, it won’t run at its full potential, and sooner rather than later, things will take a turn for the worst. Properly maintaining your Heat and Cooling System will not only ensure it functions at full efficiency, but it will also help you avoid costly repairs. However, searching for companies with terms like “heating and cooling repairs near me” can also help prevent further repairs or the need to replace the system altogether.
A Heating and Cooling System consists of either a furnace and an AC or a heat pump – which both cools and heats. There is an indoor unit, which contains an evaporator and blower, and an outdoor component that is made up of a condenser coil and compressor. All of these parts must be taken into consideration when cleaning (or when searching for companies by “heating and cooling repairs near me”). The following instructions can be applied to any whole-home air conditioning or heating pump unit.
Shut off the power to the unit completely – on the exterior and the breaker box.
Use a screwdriver or wrench to remove the fasteners on the outer exterior. Once you remove the top of the unit, clean any debris out of the interior by hand or with a vacuum. Use a garden hose to gently spray off the fins of your heating and cooling system from the inside out. Never use a pressure washer since this can damage the fins. This is also a great time to inspect the fins and straighten any bent ones. Clean the area around your heating and cooling system to keep debris from falling in.
