How to Best Maintain HVAC Units Before the Winter Season?

While many are familiar with the role that HVAC equipment serves for cooling a building, such systems are also crucial for maintaining heat during winter months. As seasons begin to change, it is important to ensure that your unit has been well inspected and maintained to guarantee optimal operations before it is too late. Generally, it is recommended to conduct semi-annual checkups, one being conducted in the fall prior to the start of winter. Through proper maintenance, one can both improve the service life of their system and reduce heating costs upwards of 40%. In this blog, we will discuss the basic steps carried out for HVAC inspections, ensuring that you know how to best care for your investment. 

One of the first and easiest steps to ensuring HVAC health is to turn on the system and listen to how it operates. At this time, one should be aware of any unusual noises sourcing from the unit, and warm air should be released from the registers. If there is an unusual noise emanating from the unit, then you should attempt to track where it is coming from to begin troubleshooting. 

Over time with standard operations being carried out, dust and debris can build up on the evaporator coils which are situated within the air handler. As substances build up, they can reduce the efficiency of the heat pump as an insulating layer is formed. To remove and deter such buildups, one may use a dusting brush and vacuum to clean off all the coils. At the same time, the drain pan and plug should be cleaned out so that forming condensation can flow with ease. 

The heat pump of the HVAC unit is powered by a refrigerant, and any leak can lead to a loss in overall performance. When dealing with HVAC and refrigeration products, one should always refer to manufacturer specifications for proper levels and recharging. If there is indeed a leak occurring, an ultraviolet dye kit is quite useful for determining the source of leaking refrigerants for the means of carrying out a repair. 

Another area that is prone to leakage is within the ductwork of the HVAC unit. In such areas, tears and loose connections may lead to leakages, and it is important to inspect all junctions if there is a suspected issue. If leaks are minor, repairs may be carried out with duct tape and sealants. For bigger issues, however, entire sections of ductwork may need to be replaced. 

If all prior steps have been followed and issues still persist, there are a few more areas that may be inspected. For one, the furnace should be checked for its condition, and the thermocouple should be cleaned so that the furnace may be fired up. If the thermocouple still lacks the ability to sustain furnace operations, then it may have reached the end of its service life and will require replacement. 

Moving on from the furnace, there are a few more important sections that may require cleaning for proper functionality. First, the blower fan and compressor should both be cleaned and dampers should be recycled, ensuring cleaner air and more optimal flow. Additionally, the thermostat should be checked so that all controls operate correctly. As a last step of standard maintenance, all filters must be replaced regularly for both the overall efficiency of the system, and the cleanliness of air that is brought into a space. By following these various steps, one can best ensure that their HVAC unit is ready for winter months.

At ASAP Industrials, we serve as an online distributor of industrial supplies that may be used for numerous applications. With over 2 billion new, used, obsolete, and hard-to-find items readily available for purchase from our database, we invite you to explore our offerings at your leisure. If you find certain items that you are interested in, you may take advantage of our RFQ service to receive personalized quotes for your comparisons with ease. As an AS9120B, ISO 9001:2015, and FAA AC 00-56B certified and accredited enterprise, we go above and beyond industry standards to guarantee top-quality items every single purchase. If you have any questions or concerns regarding our offerings and services, give our team members a call or email at your earliest convenience, and we would be more than happy to assist you however we can. Get started on the purchasing process today and see why customers choose to steadily rely on ASAP Industrials for all their operational requirements. 

1. jacob miller
2. Posted on November 23, 2021
hvac and refrigeration

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