Whether you're preparing for a major season change, or dealing with weird weather patterns that seem to pack all four seasons into a single month, switching between heat and air conditioning (AC) can be a big challenge. Clogged up vents, dirty filters, and damaged components across the entire system can be expensive in the long run. To understand the costs and the solutions, here are a few heating and AC maintenance details.

No Maintenance Means Higher Bills

Your heating and/or air conditioning systems work by heating or cooling the air in your building to meet a specific temperature. This means a steady stream of electricity to power heating elements or cooling condensers, along with fans that have to push the air through the building efficiently.

Air conditioning systems read temperatures through a sensor that is located in a part of the home that isn't immediately changed by air as soon as it leaves the unit, or affected by outside air. It also can't be in a stuffy, blocked off part of the home that won't be affected by the air conditioning system.

Whether you're dealing with heat or air, airflow is a big part of the process. If there isn't enough air getting into the system through a filter, the building won't get enough air treatment in a timely fashion. If the vents are clogged, the treated air won't reach the rest of the building in time. Finally, if the filter is broken and allowing debris again, the system can burn up from clogs or otherwise fall into disrepair.

Major AC Maintenance Points

Allow a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) professional to inspect your airflow systems. They can check the ventilation ducts to figure out if you need replacements or simply need loose parts to be pushed together, and can perform cleaning on existing duct systems.

Filters can be changed, and you can give information about specific things that you want to be filtered. Pollen is a good filter option for people with seasonal allergies (also known as hay fever), while pet owners may want an AC unit that helps out by filtering animal dander that can loom in the air. 

Although filters such as high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters can catch a lot of airborne debris, simply saying "filter everything" isn't helpful. You need to know what is a specific problem for your health, as filtering some harmless air particles with a strong filter will mean slower airflow and higher power bills. Suspicions are fine, but know the facts about what truly affects you to make an informed filter selection.

Contact an air conditioning and heating service, like Always Ready Repair, to schedule an appointment for maintenance, or even new installation.

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