5 Things I Didn’t Know About My HVAC

My HVAC Questions

The world of HVAC can be an unpredictable place, with so many intricacies and assumed pieces of knowledge it can be easy to go your entire life without knowing a seemingly simple fact or helpful bit of knowledge about the very HVAC you use in your home. I know my HVAC experience, just from these simple posts, has expanded incredibly. I have learned so much about my HVAC that you could use in your day to day life. Let’s dive in and go over 5 things I learned about my HVAC that could change the way you look at your HVAC system.

 

I have to schedule my HVAC for regular maintenance?

What most people do not know, is that their HVAC is like a car. It needs to be checked regularly for leaks, damages, and electrical problems. Scheduling regular maintenance should be common sense, but it is easy to forget about my HVAC when it is just always running smoothly. My HVAC, much like most people’s, is a beast of a machine. But without regular maintenance, HVAC systems start to fall apart, and could increase your energy bill dramatically, or even fail when you need it most. Since the highest stress seasons are the most important for air conditioners and heaters, it is important to schedule regular maintenance before these times of year. In these intense South Carolina weather systems, heat can be just a day away. It is better to get your maintenance out of the way early, and have peace of mind when the heat finally arrives.

I have to clean my HVAC?

Spring cleaning is right around the corner, and what better time than now to enlighten you on yet another thing you have to clean regularly? I clean my HVAC and air filters once a month, keeping the air clean and crisp. Now this is a little excessive, but regular cleaning is almost as important for my HVAC as regular maintenance. If you have an outside unit, regularly clearing leaves and other debris off it can help increase efficiency, decreasing your energy bill. I clean my air filters frequently because of my pets, who’s hair can quickly fill up an air filter. Once an air filter is clogged, it can redistribute pollutants, and run less efficiently, causing an increase in your electricity bill.

It is as simple as finding the main intake vent, opening it up and taking a look at the filter inside. They should be white, or just barely grey. If there is any black, or if the vent looks covered in a sheet of hair or other pollutants, it’s best just to buy a new one and replace it.

Closing my HVAC’s air vents helps… right?

So here is something I thought – I close my HVAC vents, the air vents scattered around my apartment or house, and it increases the air flow to other ones, right? False!

It actually causes my HVAC to work harder, because HVAC systems work on pressure, not fans. Unlike your car, which has individual rotors for vents, so when you close it the air is more concentrated out the others, HVAC systems use pressure to circulate air. So when the air vent is closed, it is still receiving the same amount of air as if it were open. The only way to manage individual temperatures that specifically would be individual systems, sometimes called split systems, that can operate in a single room. This is what hotels do for individual room temperature control!

Is my HVAC bigger than it was before?

So, my HVAC system is new. While installing, I noticed my HVAC is much larger than the last. Knowing a little bit about HVAC’s, I know that if my HVAC is too big, it can actually be less efficient than a properly sized one. This is because if an HVAC system is able to cool a house too quickly, and is continuously turning off and on, it can use more energy starting and stopping than a properly sized one would use staying on and consistent.

Upon further research, I found that my HVAC was bigger so that it could be more efficient. A new standard in SEER and energy ratings has required HVAC systems to become more efficient, and bigger, more advanced systems are the key.

How can I tell when my HVAC needs repairs?

I thought to myself “I can’t tell when my HVAC needs repairs, I’m not an expert!” And that’s a fair thought. But in reality, if you keep a regular eye on your HVAC system, It can be easy to detect when you need to schedule repairs. Keeping an eye on copper pipes can be a key, looking for frost or frozen parts, or leaks can be a huge flag that my HVAC needs repairs. Same with weird outages, as electrical problems are the most common problem with HVAC units. Keeping an eye on compressor coils, as well as listening to your outdoor unit to make sure that everything is balanced and running smoothly. Simply knowing what everything on my HVAC is supposed to look like, can be helpful to detecting problems throughout the system.

 

With these five quick facts, you can better manage your HVAC system, just like I’ve learned to do with my HVAC. Keeping up with your HVAC does not have to be hard though, General Air of Greenville South Carolina is here to help. Get in contact with the HVAC experts today, and start scheduling those regular maintenance trips!