You own a house. So, what now? Your home, of course, has a heating and cooling system as part of it. However, an HVAC system comprises many elements, including your furnace, air conditioner, ductwork systems, vents & registers, thermostats, and air filters are just a few of them. Since your residential HVAC system is an expensive piece of equipment, our experts at Milford Heating & Cooling advise all homeowners to have a licensed and NATE certified technician service their HVAC systems at the beginning of spring and fall. Still, a homeowner should have a basic understanding of how all of the pieces and parts work together to keep your home at its optimal comfort level. Below is a quick rundown of HVAC basics for every homeowner:
1. What Is the Age of Your HVAC System?
Knowing the age of your system may be useful in the event if suddenly something goes wrong. The lifespan of your heating and cooling units is influenced by how well they are cared for and maintained. Furthermore, the longer an HVAC system operates, its efficiency will drop. As a result, the high energy consumption will cause higher monthly energy bills. So knowing the age of your system will give you a timeline for when you may need to start shopping for replacements.
2. What Type of HVAC System Do You Have?
Another thing homeowners should be aware of is the type of HVAC system they have. There are many different kinds of furnaces and air conditioners available. Some helpful questions to ask yourself are: “Is my furnace is a gas or electric unit?” Or “Do I have central air?” Knowing these details can help you make an educated decision about your HVAC system in the future if you find yourself in a situation where a repair or replacement is needed or required. Of course, if you’re not sure what type of system you have, that’s no issue! Your family and friends at Milford Heating & Cooling are here to help with all of your HVAC-related questions!
3. Why Is Indoor Air Quality Significant?
Did you know that the indoor air quality (IAQ) in a house may be up to five times more filthy than the outside? As a result, the health and well-being of each family member can be impacted by poor IAQ. While some individuals are less likely to react to air pollutants, poor air quality typically affects those with preexisting medical conditions such as respiratory problems, asthma, or allergies. Respiratory problems, for example, could be aggravated by dirty air. Additionally, people with allergies may start sneezing and experience watery eyes more often when the IAQ is low. The bottom line is that it’s essential to have good IAQ in your home for everyone’s safety and comfort. Because of this, we strongly advise replacing your air filters every few months. An air filter’s purpose is to capture and retain undesirable particles; therefore, not changing them as directed puts both you and the health of your loved ones in harm’s way concerning your indoor air quality
4. How Do You Know If Your HVAC System Is Broken?
As a homeowner, you should get to know your HVAC system. For example, being able to detect a strange odor or unusual sound from it is vital. This is critical to determining what your HVAC system is attempting to communicate. Another thing to keep in mind is that your thermostat works in conjunction with the HVAC system; it’s the mechanism that controls and maintains the temperature in your home. So if you notice that your home isn’t as warm or cool as it should be, check the thermostat to see if it’s set correctly. If the settings appear to be okay, there may be an issue with your HVAC system that requires the attention of one of our friendly and knowledgeable professionals at Milford Heating & Cooling
5. How Can You Practice Preventative Maintenance?
At this point, you may be wondering how to keep your HVAC system running smoothly. You don’t have to worry; we’ve got you covered! As a homeowner, it is your responsibility to have your furnace should be serviced for its tune-up and safety check every fall. Similarly, your air conditioning unit should be serviced every spring for its tune-up and safety check. These tune-ups are essential to schedule because they help ensure that your HVAC system operates at its peak performance. Also, it’s a great opportunity for our team of experts to catch any small problems before they turn into larger and more expensive repairs. Lastly, preventative maintenance appointments give you peace of mind knowing that your family will be comfortable all year long!
We hope you found this post helpful! If you have any further questions about HVAC basics or would like to schedule a preventative maintenance appointment, please don’t hesitate to contact us today at (513) 655-5112, or schedule an appointment online now by clicking here! Our team here at Milford Heating & Cooling is happy to help however we can! Call us today and experience the five-star difference.