Purchasing a new air conditioning unit is a major purpose. Some will question as to how long they have before they need to make that purchase again? Depending on the care you give your unit it can last anywhere from 10 to 15 years and with good and proper care the unit can last as long as 20 to 35 years. As you can see, the better care you take of your A/C unit, the longer it will last. NY NJ AC Connection will share a few tips that you can do to help care for your HVAC system and extend the life. In this way you can avoid that expensive replacement.
Tips to Make Your HVAC System Last Longer
Discharge Pipes – All HVAC systems will have a PVC discharge pipe. The PVC discharge pipe leads out and away from your home. It is important to regularly inspect the discharge pipe. Make sure it remains clean and free of debris. Occasionally, the pipe can freeze over during the winter and in the hot summer can become clogged with algae. Some will cover the pipe with insulated foam to prevent ice from building up inside the pipe during the winter months. You may want to flush the pipe to make sure no clogs occur during the summer season. It is recommended that you flush the pip twice a year; one time in the spring, and again in the fall to prepare the A/C unit for the up coming summer or winter seasons.
Proper Ventilation – The register or vent inside your home needs to be cleaned and open for proper air circulation or air flow. Some will close the registers to help push more air into the more visited rooms. Some believe this improves efficiency. However this is actually the direct opposite. You will want all the registers open and free of any dirt buildup or debris. When the vents or registers are closed, you will have poor air flow and worse, harmful bacteria and mold could begin to grow. When the vents are closed, you get poor air flow and humidity buildup which is the perfect environment for molds and bacteria to thrive in.
Air Filters – One of the easiest tasks yet one of the most overlooked is the regular changing out of your intake air filters. When the air filters become clogged with dirt, you will have poor air circulation which leads to compressor and evaporator coil problems. This leads to even bigger problems if not corrected. Most filters need to be changed every one to three months, depending on your living environment. Figure out how often your filter needs to be change and mark it on a calendar.
Condenser – The condenser unit is located outside where it is exposed to dirt and debris. If dirt and debris builds up around the lower heat transfer, which is the component of the condenser that goes across the outdoor coils, this will forces your unit to work harder. It can be easily washed off with a hose. You may want to consider making it routine to clean the condenser off every three months to improve efficiency.
HVAC Maintenance in Hell’s Kitchen, Midtown, Washington Heights, Upper & Lower Manhattan, New York
By performing these four basic tasks you can help improve the life span of your HVAC system. Lastly, another option to extend the life of your HVAC system, and probably one of the most important, is to schedule a yearly inspection and tune up with an HVAC company. NY NJ AC Connection can help you maintain and extend the life of your HVAC system by inspecting and performing your annual tune ups. Contact NY NJ AC Connection to extend the life of your HVAC system today.
