I previewed a home a couple of months ago and noticed that the Air Conditioning unit(s) looked relatively old. Upon talking with the listing agent, I was told the sellers had never maintained the unit...in 4 years! Wow, I thought, this is not good.
As it turned out the, owners had to spend a sizeable amount of money to have a new. larger air conditioning unit installed or the buyer would walk...After negotiating such a a deal, I'm sure these sellers learned an important lesson.
Maintenance can save you a lot of $$$ !!!
There are plenty of reputable HVAC companies out there that will (for a minimal fee), Many will recommend semi-annual visits in the spring and fall.
- Spring time is when the technician will clean the indoor and outdoor condenser coils, verify refrigerant charge, and inspect all the wiring
- In the fall, look for them clean and inspect the furnace blower, burners, and heat exchanger.
- The Summer and Fall months are key times to continuously brush or blow off fallen leaves and other debris from the outdoor air conditioning units and/or heating pumps
- Spring months (March-May) are the months to wash and dry filters and vacuum condenser coils on all window air conditioning units
- In summer, shut off the water supply to the furnace humidifier
- In fall, replace the humidifier wick filter, set the humidistat to 35% relative humidity, and turn on the water supply
- Make sure when you are mowing the lawn, grass does not get into the unit
- Inspect the insulation and refrigerant lines going into your home and replace them if you notice wear-n-tear, damage, or if they are missing. Doing this every 4-5 weeks will ensure peace-of-mind
- Every quarter, it is recommended to install a new one-inch pleated furnace filter to avoid hair and fibers from you, your family and/or pets
- Make sure that outdoor air conditioning units and heat pumps are on firm and level ground or pads. The ground can shift (even a little) over the course of a year and that can greatly effect efficiency and life of your unit
- Once a year, preferably in the spring, take a cup of bleach and put it down the air conditioner condensate drain. This will do a lot to prevent the buildup of mold and algae -- both of which can cause problems down the road
- To avoid undue strain on your HVAC unit, don't close the home's register more than 20%
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Dave Harbison
Long Beach REALTOR®
Main Street Realtors (562) 618-9770
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Long Beach Realtor® / Real Estate Agent
Long Beach Homes for Sale, Condos and Investment Properties
Long Beach Relocation Expert
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Labels: Belmont Shore, Bungalow, Craftsman, Home Improvement, HVAC, Long Beach, Real Estate, remodel
# posted by
Dave Harbison @ 7:46 AM
