HVAC stands for heating, ventilation and air conditioning. For your HVAC system to last for a long time, you need to take good care of it. To help you out here are HVAC maintenance tips that you should put into consideration:

Switch filters

Filters trap dirt and other debris. Over time, the filters get dirty and you have to replace them for your system to continue working properly. For ideal results, you should replace the filters every 6 months.

It’s highly recommended that you inspect the filters every now and then. If you are doing your regular HVAC inspection and you notice that one of the filters is dirty, you should replace it immediately—you shouldn’t wait for 6 months. Studies have shown that replacing the air filter with a new one aids in lowering the energy consumption by up to 15%.

In addition to changing the air filter, you should also clear the area around the outdoor unit. For ideal results you should ensure that the vegetation is 5 feet away from your HVAC system.

Schedule professional check ups

Although, you can undertake minor HVAC inspections, it’s recommended that you hire a professional HVAC technician to undertake thorough checkups. You should do this at least once a year. When you hire a technician, he/she will disassemble the unit and identify any problems that it might be having.  The technician will also clear the drain and clean both the indoor and outdoor units.

While there are many HVAC repair technicians, you shouldn’t hire anyone—you should do your research and only work with a certified professional.

Eliminate mold

Mold tends to grow on moist evaporator coils. You should get rid of the mold by cleaning and disinfecting the evaporator coil. To disinfect it you should use half-bleach, half water solution. To avoid damaging your system, you should ensure that you have switched it off for safety reasons.

Help the HVAC do its work

In addition to cleaning the filter, you can help your HVAC system do its work by getting a programmable thermostat. A programmable thermostat helps you in saving energy as you don’t have to worry every time you want to change the temperature—all you need to do is to pre program the thermostat and it will change itself.

Another way of ensuring that HVAC system works to its optimum is sealing the heating/cooling ducts and any open spaces. This calls for you to ensure that the doors, windows and nooks are shut and properly sealed.