Ways You Could Be Hurting Your HVAC System

Your HVAC system is a valuable investment, not only financially but in terms of your comfort as well. Keeping your furnace and air conditioner in top shape will ensure the environment inside your home is perfect all year long. However, you could be hurting your HVAC system unintentionally, either by neglecting certain tasks or by misusing the system. Take a look below to learn some of the ways homeowners hurt their own HVAC systems to avoid making these common mistakes.

Neglecting Filter Changes

Your furnace filter doesn’t just keep your indoor air clean for your own benefit—it keeps your HVAC system clean as well. The filter prevents dust, dirt, pollen, and other particles from coating the inside of your furnace and air conditioner, which makes them work much harder to keep your home comfortable. Neglecting to change your filter regularly can thus cause buildup inside your HVAC system, as well as choke the motor by making it work harder to draw air through a clogged filter. Both of these factors can drastically reduce the lifetime of your furnace or air conditioner.

Setting the Thermostat Too High or Low

Setting your thermostat too high or too low can increase the strain on your furnace and air conditioner. Higher demand causes the system’s components to wear out much more quickly, which can lead to damage if they are not replaced in a timely fashion. The ideal temperature range for your home and your HVAC system is 68-72 degrees Fahrenheit. Whenever possible, try to keep your thermostat set in this range. If you have your thermostat set at the extremes of this range but are still too warm or too cold, contact your HVAC service to take a look—your furnace or air conditioner may need a tune-up or repairs to deliver more efficient heating or cooling.

Closing Too Many Vents

Closing the vents in unoccupied or infrequently-used rooms can help you save money on your heating and cooling bills. However, closing too many vents can harm rather than help your HVAC system. Experts say you should never close more than 20-30% of your home’s vents at any given time. Additionally, rather than closing vents all the way, you should only close the vents partway in underused rooms. Closing a vent all the way can create a pressure differential, which will “suck in” hot or cold air from the outdoors, affecting the temperature throughout your home. Too many closed vents can also force heated or cooled air out through small holes or cracks in your ductwork, rather than ensuring it gets to the rooms where you want additional comfort. All of these situations will cause your furnace or air conditioner to work harder and cost you more, rather than the opposite. If you are interested in heating and cooling only certain portions of your home at any given time, temperature zoning may be a better solution than closing vents.

Taking care of your HVAC system will ensure this investment lasts for many years to come. You can learn more about enjoying efficient heating and cooling in Columbus when you check out the information on our blog. If you need to contact an HVAC professional for advice or repairs, please visit our website to reach us.