As part of gearing up for the fast-approaching summer season, it is important to keep up-to-date with routine maintenance involving your heating, ventilating and air conditioning system (HVAC). With the winter months behind us and the warm weather upon us, it’s just the right time to ensure your HVAC system is out-of-the-dust and running effectively and efficiently.

This kind of attention is a way to maintain your home and ensure your investment remains viable, especially in a tricky economic environment. Applewood Plumbing Heating & Electric recommends regular maintenance as part of getting ready for summer. It’ll keep you cooler and running smoothly in the long run; while providing efficient operation in the months to come. The heat/cold source is the most complicated part of the heating and cooling system, and is the part most likely to suffer from neglect. Whatever source your system uses, we recommend you give it regular attention to prevent problems.

If you have an air conditioning system, swamp cooler or attic fan give them a little maintenance at the beginning of the season for cooler days, fewer repair bills and longer life of your cooling system. We regularly see savings on monthly utility bills when they have been maintained.

Your HVAC system makes up 50 to 60 percent of your annual energy bill. With an average life expectancy of 12-15 years, you want to do everything you can to keep it running as efficiently and for as long as possible. On its own, an annual cleaning and inspection can delay a system’s inevitable demise while helping minimize your monthly energy costs.

In addition to minimizing costs, a properly working HVAC system can improve safety in your home. Malfunctioning systems increase the risk of carbon-monoxide (CO) poisoning and cause some 6,000 fires and $47 million in property damage each year, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Dirt is your biggest enemy because it affects all three basic components of the system drastically lowering efficiency. This makes cleaning the most important part of regular maintenance. Lubrication and belt adjustment are also important. Applewood Plumbing Heating & Electric offers inspections and maintenance to ready HVAC systems for summer.

With that said, here are a few of Applewood’s HVAC maintenance tips:

The easiest place to start is with the filters. If you can’t remember changing them, the likelihood they need to be changed is pretty good.
Applewood recommends changing or cleaning the filters on your air conditioner and furnace at least every other month.
Changing or cleaning your furnace/air conditioning filters regularly means the system will run more efficiently and you’ll be breathing cleaner air.
Replace batteries in digital thermostats and CO alarms and smoke alarms.

While do-it-yourself maintenance is good for upkeep, it is also important to have your HVAC system professionally inspected at least once-a-year. Combined, these two actions can ensure a healthier, more efficient home HVAC system.