The LJHCA Shares Tips on Caring for HVAC units
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The HVAC Unit is the lifeblood of climate comfort inside any home or property. In this light, the La Jolla HVAC Contractors’ Association (LJHCA) has shared some tips on how to care for the HVAC Unit so that it could serve up till its intended lifespan of at least ten years.
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LJHCA President Phil Thompson says HVAC Units are an investment simply because these do not come cheap. Homeowners choose it for comfort and convenience, and the reliability that it can provide. “But like any equipment around the home, the HVAC System is also subject to wear and tear, especially if it is not adequately maintained and taken cared of by the homeowner. If it is just being used day in and day out without being professionally checked after an intended period, or the homeowner fails to clean up the outdoor units and the filters then definitely it will not last as long as it should be. Repairs can be costly, and untimely replacement is much more expensive because you haven’t recouped the investment yet with a new unit and you would have to replace it already,” says Thompson.
Foremost on the LJHCAs tips is to regularly clean the filter, replace what should be routinely replaced as mentioned in the manufacturer’s instructions, and maintain the outer unit by regularly cleaning it.
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The United States Department of Energy has an extensive post that guides homeowners into maintaining their HVAC System. In the post they emphasized the importance of regularly cleaning the air conditioning filters.
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“The most important maintenance task that will ensure the efficiency of your air conditioner is to routinely replace or clean its filters. Clogged, dirty filters block normal airflow and reduce a system's efficiency significantly. With normal airflow obstructed, air that bypasses the filter may carry dirt directly into the evaporator coil and impair the coil's heat-absorbing capacity. Replacing a dirty, clogged filter with a clean one can lower your air conditioner's energy consumption by 5% to 15%.”
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The full guidelines can be found here.
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Home improvement website The Family Handyman says it is important that the homeowner understands how their HVAC System works so he could carefully maintain it accordingly. One of the tips they mentioned is to routinely clean the outdoor units. HVAC Wiki
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“Keep it Clean - Vacuum the fins of your AC unit clean with a soft-bristle brush. Note: they’re fragile and can easily be bent or crushed. On many units you’ll have to unscrew and lift off a metal box to get at them. Check your owner’s manual for directions and lift off the box carefully to avoid bumping the fins.”
Check out the step-by-step instructions here.
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The SDHCA says the best way to ensure optimal performance for the HVAC Units is to carefully maintain it.
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Reliable Standard Heating & Air La Jolla
1636 Caminito Solidago La Jolla, CA 92037
858-295-0909
http://reliablestandard.com/la-jolla/