Top 6 Ways to Make Your HVAC System Last Longer

The average air conditioner will last for about 15 years. If your HVAC system is well cared for and properly utilized, you may get a few extra years out of it, while a neglected system will likely quit sooner. Make the most out of the cooling system in your Stuart, Florida, home with these tips.

Schedule Tune-Ups Regularly

Regular maintenance visits are one of the most effective ways to increase your air conditioner’s life span. During our thorough tune-ups, we carefully inspect your air conditioner for signs of pending problems. We also clean dust and debris from the system, tighten electrical connections, lubricate moving parts, check your air conditioner’s refrigerant levels, and make sure the thermostat is functioning properly. Schedule maintenance twice a year for the longest life span and best performance from your HVAC installation.

Remember to Change your Air Filter

Change your air filter no less than quarterly. Check the filter once a month for visible signs of dust and dirt. If you have pets, you’ll typically find that you need to change the air filter more often. A clean air filter translates to a cleaner HVAC system, which means less strain on your system and more years of efficient functioning.

Open the Air Registers

Go through the home and make sure all your air vents are open. It’s a common myth that closing the air vents improves home comfort by diverting air to certain parts of the house. Closed air vents create imbalanced air pressure in the home which puts added strain on your HVAC system. This will cause components to fail more often, resulting in frequent repairs and a shorter lifespan.

Address Indoor Air Quality

If you have poor indoor air quality (IAQ), your HVAC system may be struggling to function with damp or dirty air circulating throughout the home. We offer a wide range of IAQ solutions that will help you clean up the air so your HVAC system doesn’t have to work as hard.

A dehumidifier is a valuable choice in our Floridian climate, as it will pull much of the moisture from your air before your air conditioner’s evaporator coils are forced to deal with it. An air cleaner or ultraviolet (UV) light will assist with a variety of airborne pollutants such as bacteria, dust, and dander that can impact your HVAC system, as well as your health and comfort.

Install a Smart Thermostat

A smart thermostat offers many benefits. It will help you optimize your HVAC settings for the best possible energy efficiency. Not only does this help your system live longer, but it will also minimize your utility costs. Running at a low speed for a longer period of time is the best way for an HVAC system to function. A smart thermostat will help you avoid frequent cycling and other issues that add wear and tear to your installation.

Use the Proper Fan Setting

Set your thermostat’s fan setting to "auto" rather than "on." If the fan is on, it operates continuously, which puts a lot of stress on your system. The auto setting will only run the fan when you’re actively heating or cooling the home.

You might want to turn the fan on when the temperatures are moderate outside and you need circulation to filter the air. It’s helpful to run the fan briefly if you’re cleaning and stirring up dust as well. In these cases, make sure you turn the fan off again in about an hour to keep energy costs and system strain to a minimum.

With regular maintenance and proper use, you can keep your HVAC system running for a long time. Call Stephen K. Denny, Inc. for efficient tune-ups and prompt repairs so you’re always getting the best performance from your cooling system. We’ll help you extend your air conditioner’s lifespan as long as possible. Call us for all your cooling needs at (561) 250-7415.

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