Time to Break These Common Heating and Cooling Habits for a More Efficient Home

The 3 Most Common HVAC Mistakes for Homeowners

Evaluating habits and determining what to change is always good, especially as the new year approaches. Homeowners have many bad habits regarding their home systems, including heating and cooling habits. The best place to start is by narrowing down the worst habits to pinpoint where change can begin. 

In breaking these three bad habits, homeowners can start the new year by properly treating their homes' heating and cooling systems. 

1. Air Filter Change Schedules

The furnace and AC filters need to be changed more regularly. If this is a bad habit in the home, it's far more common than one might think. Air filters are out of sight and often out of mind. Unfortunately, this leads to neglect, which is hard on the system and negatively impacts indoor air quality. 

Clean filters do the following: 

• Allow the system to operate more efficiently
• Reduce the strain on the system
• Improve indoor air quality

Forgetting or avoiding air filter replacement can cause the system to be clogged, restrict airflow, or increase the energy required to keep the home comfortable. Eventually, this will lead to more air conditioning maintenance or heating maintenance required to keep the system operational. 

Homeowners should change the filters every 90 days. If the home has pets or anyone susceptible to allergies and asthma, the filters should be changed every 30 days. 

2. Open All the Air Vents

Many homeowners close the vents in rooms that are not often used, hoping this will direct more air into the rooms that are used. Unfortunately, this doesn't quite work. Closing the air vents does not save energy; in fact, it might require more energy.

Here is what happens when closing the air vents is used: 

• Reduced airflow throughout the entire home
• Increased wear and tear on system components
• Higher energy consumption to compensate for the airflow blockage

With a closed air vent, the ductwork still sends and directs air down that path. So, it is either held, trying to force out the vent, or it has to redistribute. This will cause an imbalance in airflow, making it difficult for the system overall. 

3. Lack of Maintenance

Air conditioner maintenance and heater maintenance are both important. If the home has an HVAC unit, it's best to perform maintenance twice a year, once for each system use. It's easy to pretend AC maintenance isn't important, but it really is. 

Maintenance is a great way to catch potential issues early and keep the unit in check. The professionals will inspect, clean, and make any minor repairs to keep things running smoothly. 

About Chad's AC Direct

Chad's AC Direct offers a comprehensive array of services for heating and air conditioning units. The team is professional and friendly, no matter what homeowners need. Contact them today for HVAC service in Montgomery, AL. 

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