Ac Repair & Maintenance: Preparing Your Homes For Upcoming Winters

Changing filters, ensuring outside units are debris-free, and checking out for unusual noises are some basic aspects of maintaining your HVAC system. Yet the often-overlooked part is making sure your air conditioning in Flagler is all set for winter.

Although winter is a season to enjoy the snow, making snowmen and treating yourself with warm beverages. It also means you’re going to spend a hefty amount of money on utility bills if your HVAC systems are not maintained properly.

The truth is that air conditioning systems work optimally with regular maintenance to help avoid issues before they occur. Therefore, the only thing you can do to keep your home comfortable during the winter while minimizing your energy bills is to take proper care of your HVAC unit. 

In this blog, you can learn a comprehensive set of maintenance tips designed to prepare your home for whatever winter brings. However, if you need help with AC repair in Flagler Beach FL, maintenance, or system replacement, you can always call for professional assistance for excellent service.

Why Are Air Conditioning Repairs Important To Prepare For Winter?

A highly maintained, winter-ready HVAC system can benefit you in a number of ways. It enhances your HVAC system’s life, optimizes performance, helps save a lot on electricity bills, and decreases the risk of your system biting the dust in the middle of a winter blizzard.

Air Conditioner Repair Tips To Prep Your Home For The Upcoming Winter

While in-depth maintenance is best left to certified technicians and HVAC contractors in Volusia County, here are a few tips to keep your HVAC system functioning properly.

Check Your Air Conditioning Filters

The best HVAC preventative maintenance tip involves checking your air conditioning filters before the first breeze sets in. Almost every AC system has a set of filters designed to keep the air within your home clean.

As your HVAC system activates, it pulls outside air into your home. This air passes through the filters to eliminate pollutants, such as dust, allergens, plant debris, and mold before it disperses into your house.

With consistent HVAC usage, the filters will catch more debris. With time, these filters will get more dirt, and the dirtier they become, the longer they will take to heat your home. This eventually results in more energy consumption.

Therefore, it’s essential to inspect your air conditioning filters before the winter season hits. If they look dirty, get them replaced as soon as possible. A regular check every month or two is highly recommended. This approach will not only keep your HVAC well-maintained and your house warm, but also contribute to reduced utility bills.

Prepare The Humidifier For The AC Unit

Many homeowners in Flagler use a full-house humidifier to restore moisture, which is usually missing during the winter. This equipment is a crucial part of the efficient HVAC installation process and it's even more important to keep it clean from mold and dirt.

It’s recommended to change the water panel of your humidifier twice every season. Bear in mind that if you do so before the start of summer, you can obtain maximum efficiency from your HVAC system in the upcoming winter.

Additionally, clean the humidifier’s water reservoir to remove microbes and mineral scale deposits. Clean the outer housing and the intake vent leading to the humidifier’s fan (applicable for fan-powered and steam humidifiers only).

Conduct a thorough inspection of the drain line to ensure there are no leaks. Lastly, make sure the humidifier is switched on, as they are usually turned off during the spring. Following this routine helps keep your new unit new.

Cover Your Ac Condenser Unit

Your AC unit is constantly exposed to various elements. It is acceptable during the hotter months but can be a problem during the winter season. Pests and rodents find the condenser unit a cozy space for nesting during the colder months, thus reducing your unit's energy efficiency.

To avoid these infestations, it’s advisable to cover your condenser unit with a fitted cover. However, before placing the cover, make sure to thoroughly clean the unit using a hose with a spray nozzle to remove dirt. 

Once dry, securely cover the condenser and make it a habit of inspecting the unit once every week. If you notice the cover coming loose due to the wind, adjust it accordingly.

Inspect Ductwork

Duct leaks are one of the primary causes of inefficient heating, resulting in 20% to 30% heat loss in many Volusia County homes and nearby areas like Daytona Ave., Orange City, and Holly Hill. So, before or during the summer season, check your home’s HVAC ductwork. Inspect if they are ready for the winter season or need any emergency repairs.

Duct sealing removes the gaps, disconnections, and damages that can cause heat loss and lead to low heating efficiency. You can check them yourself or call a technician who has experience in AC repair in Flagler Beach FL to restore the performance of your ducts.

Moreover, cold air from the attic or crawlspace, where ducts are located, moves inside the duct system to your home space with heated air. This lowers the temperature of the air arriving through supply vents. As a result, homeowners increase thermostat settings to generate more heat to compensate for the heat losses.

Conclusion

Ensuring your HVAC system is well-maintained is important for winter comfort. By following these four easy HVAC repair and maintenance tips before winter hits, you can keep your heating and cooling systems functional throughout the winter.

In case you find these DIY maintenance tips overwhelming, don’t worry! Many experts provide top-notch air conditioning services in Flagler, Daytona Beach, Port Orange, Palm Coast, and New Smyrna Beach. So, seek assistance from a reliable HVAC company because only with great customer service can you fully enjoy the winter.