The HVAC system in your Gardendale, Alabama, home likely has a good lifespan of 10 to 15 years. But invisible threats can cut that lifespan until it’s too late to save your unit. Keep an eye out for these three threats to your HVAC system, and you’ll enjoy longer cooling efficiency and lower utility costs.
Neglecting HVAC Maintenance
Few things will reduce your HVAC system’s lifespan more than neglecting to give your unit the TLC it needs. Over time, your system wears down as it attempts to maintain comfort throughout seasons of more extreme temperatures. That wear can devolve into costly damages and spikes in utility costs. Those damages, along with increased strain over time, will drastically reduce the lifespan of your system. To preserve your unit, schedule professional HVAC maintenance at least twice a year.
Inefficient Cooling Habits
How you operate your cooling system can be a key determiner in its lifespan. Your habits affect how hard your system works and therefore how much wear it experiences. For example, if you push your system to make your home feel like a crisp spring morning when it’s hot outside, then you’re likely pushing your unit too hard. We understand that summers in Birmingham can get hot, but the further your thermostat setting is from the temperature outdoors, the more you will strain your system. Instead, program your thermostat to 75 degrees Fahrenheit while you’re at home and 80 while you’re away.
Air Leaks
Your HVAC system prefers that your air stay where it belongs, contained within your living space. Unfortunately, air leaks can open around your home, allowing conditioned air to escape and hot air to enter. That heat transfer then forces your air conditioner to work harder to maintain comfort. These air leaks frequently form around doors and windows, and in under-insulated areas of the home (such as the attic). Seal these air leaks and you’ll drop your utility costs while maximizing your system’s lifespan.
Most threats to your HVAC system may be invisible, but that doesn’t mean you can’t save your system. To preserve your unit with professional HVAC maintenance, call One Source Heating, Cooling & Electrical at (205) 509-1929.
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