| HVAC Issues |
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Problems with heating and
cooling systems can range anywhere from elevated operating costs due to an
older, inefficient system to hazardous malfunctions. It is important to be
familiar with your heating and cooling systems and to maintain them properly to
avoid any dangerous conditions or costly repairs. One of the most
important things you can do to maintain the efficiency of your heating and
cooling systems as well as the air quality in your home is to make sure that
your ducts and filters are cleaned or replaced regularly. Duct cleaning takes
the expertise of a professional. If you need to find a duct cleaning service in
your area, this link is a good resource: http://www.nadca.com/zm2/search1.asp. It's a good idea to also clean your registers and vents
regularly between your duct cleaning service visits. This can be done
easily by cleaning and removing the registers and then vacuuming out the ducts
as far as your vacuum hose can reach. There are several easy and inexpensive things you can do yourself to maintain the efficiency of your heating system. If your heating system is a forced air furnace, you should clean or change the filter frequently. If you have a radiator, you will need to “bleed” it of trapped air that would prevent the water from running through the system efficiently. You can do this by opening the bleeding valve until water comes out and then closing it – be careful as the steam and water is very hot. Be sure to have something handy to catch the water. If you have a hot water heating system, you'll need to clean the boiler by opening the drain valve until the water runs clear. This should be done approximately once a month. You should also do some regular maintenance on your cooling system. For central air conditioners, it's a good idea to hire a professional service to give your system a check-up before the hot months begin. This usually involves a thorough cleaning of the air conditioning unit and a recharge of the coolant if needed. Monthly, you should also check the unit for blockages and remove any vegetation growing around it that could interfere with its proper functioning. You should also clean or change the filter and check the condensate drain at least monthly. For window units, you should clean or replace the filter at least monthly. You should also check the condensate drain to make sure that all moisture is draining properly. If your HVAC systems run on natural gas, make sure you know where your gas shut off valve is in case you need to close it. You should also make sure to keep an adjustable wrench handy for this purpose. If you ever smell gas, follow the below steps:
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