HVAC systems are essential to keeping your environment at the desired temperature in both cold and hot weather. While your HVAC system may last you a while, frequent or continuous use of your system can decrease its life span drastically. In Texas summers, air conditioning is crucial to keeping your environment comfortable, which can cause you to put your HVAC system through more work than it can handle.
We at Lyons Air & Heat want to help you keep your HVAC system functional for longer. Below are some tips and tricks to help your air conditioning and heating systems last longer and potentially lower your monthly energy costs.
We service homes and businesses in and around the Rockwall area. Call an HVAC technician at Lyons Air & Heat at (214) 432-2859 to receive an estimate or schedule repairs, installations, maintenance, and more.
What is the Average HVAC Life Expectancy?
The average lifespan of an HVAC system is around 10-15 years. But, because air conditioners in Texas tend to run more frequently than the average AC unit would, your system may not last as long. Additionally, as your unit gets older and the equipment ages, spare parts may become more scarce. This may make it more cost-effective for you to replace the unit than to repair it.
While replacing your HVAC system may be better and more cost-effective in the long run, a new HVAC system can be an expensive purchase, and not one many people want to be forced to make. Luckily, there are plenty of easy ways to keep your HVAC system running at peak performance for years. If you know your HVAC system runs very frequently, take some of these preventative measures to ensure your current system lasts as long as it should.
Tips for Extending the Life of Your HVAC Unit
There are many ways to extend the life of your system through scheduling regular HVAC maintenance, replacing dirty air filters, ensuring your home has sufficient insulation, and more. Even the latest HVAC systems can benefit from maintenance and cleaning, so be sure to take action to make good on your investment and keep it running well for years to come. Taking measures to increase the life of your HVAC can save you the hassle of paying for a new system before you should have to, and also help lower your energy bill in the process.
Routine Maintenance
HVAC systems can benefit from routine maintenance, and AC systems should be inspected at least once a year. It’s a good idea to schedule a complete inspection of your system in the late spring or early fall, so that you can ensure your system is functional before temperatures get too extreme.
Yearly tune-ups can include inspecting electrical components, checking refrigerant levels and repairing leaks, checking and cleaning condenser coils and drain lines, and more. Due for an AC tune up? Residents of Rockwall, Texas can call us at (214) 432-2859 or contact us online and let us know how we can help you.
Clean Air Ducts
In order for your air conditioning system to properly circulate air throughout your home, your air ducts need to be clean and clear of debris. Clogged ducts can cause your system to work much harder than it should have to, which can put it through unnecessary wear, increasing the cost of your energy bill in the process.
In addition to decreasing your HVAC’s life span, dust buildup can also accumulate mold, causing your system to spread harmful air particles throughout your home or office. Not only that, but dust is also extremely flammable, and an excessive buildup of dust can pose a serious threat to you and your family’s well-being. In order to keep your air quality high, your system from overworking itself, and your home more protected from fires, it’s recommended that you have your air ducts cleaned once every 5 years or so.
Good Insulation
Your HVAC system shouldn’t be doing all of the work to keep your home temperate; your insulation should be doing some of the heavy lifting as well. If your home is not well insulated, it’s not going to be able to retain heat in the colder months or keep you cool in the hotter months.
Without insulation, your HVAC system may not be able to keep up with the outside temperature, leaving your home at an uncomfortable temperature–even if your air conditioner or heater is running nonstop. Installing insulation into wall cavities and vented crawl spaces can help ensure that your HVAC system has the help it needs to work properly, and can be a worthwhile, energy-saving investment.
Smart Thermostat
Another good, energy-saving investment could be installing smart thermostats throughout your space. Your HVAC system doesn’t need to be actively heating or cooling a space if no one’s around, and smart thermostats can give your furnace and air conditioner a break while you’re away. You can set these programmable thermostats to only run when you need them to, which can save you money on your you utility bills and prevent wear on your system.
Clean Outdoor Unit
Your outdoor air conditioning unit is built to withstand all kinds of weather, but extreme weather can damage it and make it less effective. After any major storm, be sure to check your outdoor unit and clear any windblown debris. If your unit is in need of any emergency repairs in the wake of some extreme weather, Lyons Air & Heat can help get your HVAC system up and running again. Call us at (214) 432-2859 to schedule with us and we’ll have one of our skilled Rockwall AC repair technicians visit you as soon as we can.
Promote Airflow
Another one of the ways to extend the life of your system is to replace any dirty or clogged air filters. Your HVAC system uses air filters to prevent harmful particles and allergens from spreading throughout your home, and a clogged or dirty air filter can prevent air from circulating properly. If your AC unit is struggling to keep your environment at a comfortable temperature, check your air filters and replace any that seem to be overly dirty or clogged. You should be replacing your filters about every 30-90 days.
Looking to increase the indoor air quality in your home or business? Lyons Air & Heat technicians can install air scrubber devices in Rockwall, Texas and the surrounding areas. Air scrubbers can help clean the air of harmful chemicals, pollutants, and allergens that your HVAC system may be spreading throughout your home.
Fan Settings
Most HVAC systems have two fan settings: “auto” and “on.” When your fan is set to “auto,” it only operates when the HVAC system is actively producing hot or cool air. If you switch your fan setting to “on,” then your fan will run constantly until you turn it off or until you switch it to “auto.” This can cause more dust and debris to build up in your ducts and filters, which can decrease air quality and cause your HVAC system to degrade faster.
To prevent this, try to keep your fan set to “auto” whenever you can. If you still can’t stay comfortable, try to use things like ceiling fans to keep your space cool or space heaters to keep it warm. Giving your fan breaks every once in a while can help extend your unit’s lifespan and prevent excessive buildup.
For Routine Maintenance and Preventative HVAC Services in Rockwall, TX, Call Lyons Air & Heat Today
By following these tips and tricks, you can extend the life of your HVAC system, saving you from having to buy a new unit before its projected lifespan is up. Additionally, these easy tricks can help your HVAC system run more efficiently, preventing your unit from working harder than it has to and saving you money on your monthly electrical bill.
If you are looking to improve the effectiveness and increase the lifespan of your HVAC system, the Rockwall, Texas air conditioning experts at Lyons Air & Heat are here to help. We perform air conditioning and heating system tune-ups, repairs, and installations. Call us at (214) 432-2859 to schedule cleanings, repairs, or regular maintenance. We have the parts and know-how to repair various kinds of units, including older models and particularly high maintenance units. Our technicians are licensed, insured, and certified, so you can have peace of mind knowing we will get the job done and do it well.
Want to get into the habit of scheduling regular maintenance on your air conditioner or furnace? Consider signing up for our HVAC maintenance plan. You’ll receive maintenance visits twice a year (once in the spring and once in the fall) which include tune-ups and inspections, free filter replacements, special discounts on repairs, and much more. You can live with peace of mind knowing that your HVAC system is running efficiently all year round and that our skilled air conditioner service professionals will detect problems before temperatures become extreme.
