Scheduling annual professional HVAC maintenance in Portland, OR is very important for your home. However, the care steps that you take in between these appointments are equally important.
If you’re wondering whether you could be doing more for your HVAC system, keep reading to learn our tips for the best ways to boost energy efficiency and ensure equipment longevity. Then give our team a call when you’re ready to schedule services for your air conditioner, heat pump, or heater.
Choose an Air Filter
Your first step is to select an appropriate air filter. All air filters have MERV ratings to estimate what type of particles the filter will capture from your air. If a filter has too low of a rating, it won’t do much for your indoor air quality and may allow too much dust and dirt into your HVAC system.
On the other hand, a filter that is too strong will block airflow and add a lot of strain to your unit. Ideally, you want to select a filter with a MERV rating of somewhere between eight and 13. You can read individual labels to decide what type of filtration is important to you.
Care for the Air Filter
After purchasing your filter, you want to note how often it needs to be changed out. It’s a good idea to go ahead and purchase more than one filter at a time. This way, when it’s time to switch out your old filter for a new one you already have one on hand. When you switch out the air filter, write the current date on one of the edges.
This can help you to remember exactly when you put it in place. Then, set some type of reminder on your calendar or phone so you know when the air filter needs to be changed out again. Keeping a clean air filter in place is crucial to maintaining good airflow leading into your HVAC system.
Protect Your Home from Leaks
Your next step is to prevent your air conditioner from leaking water. Your AC has a condensate drain line that collects droplets of water from humidity in the air and drains it outside of your home. Unfortunately, this dark, damp line is very prone to mold growth. When you add in particles of dust that can transfer into the line with the moisture, clogs can develop easily.
Keeping the condensate drain line clean is as simple as pouring a little bit of vinegar into the line each month. Around half a cup of vinegar will help to rinse away any buildup developing, including mold spores. Otherwise, you run the risk of clogs developing and water backing up in the pipe to spill out into your home.
Maintain Good Airflow
You also want to keep an eye on the outdoor unit to make sure it is in the best shape possible. If it hasn’t rained in a while, you can use your water hose to gently rinse away any dirt buildup. It’s also a good idea to remove debris that gets stuck in the unit. Examples of this include leaves, twigs, and anything else that might blow into the unit and block airflow.
Please call Sydni, our Office Extraordinaire, to schedule your next appointment! We will take care of you from there!