Tips in HVAC Inspection

There are more than just one reason why you need to inspect your HVAC, and if you haven’t realized that yet, it means you’re probably spending too much on energy costs due to the fact that your system is no longer working efficiently. If you do wish to make it efficient and smooth-running once again, then you have to go ahead and learn how to do the inspection yourself, the purpose of which is to figure out if something’s wrong with it.

(photo credit: TodaysHomeowner.com)

In the article “How To Inspect Your HVAC” from HouseLogic.com, the key to optimum performance for your HVAC is to inspect it twice each year. That way, you get to avoid major problems and huge expenses later on.

Inspect filters

Air filters, which clean the air returning to your HVAC system, are the easiest and most obvious components to check. Yours should be dust and dirt-free because you’ve cleaned or replaced them once a month. (Ahem!) If you’ve fallen behind on air filter maintenance, vacuum or rinse them under a hose or faucet, or replace disposables.

Ductwork problems

Exposed ductwork in your basement, attic, or Starbucks-style loft is easy to inspect. Look for:

• Peeling duct tape and loose fittings around seams
• Dirt streaks that indicate escaping air
• Dents in metal
• Collapsed or torn sections of flex ducts.

Furnace flames

Fire up your furnace and inspect the flame. It should be a steady blue, not a flickering yellow or orange, which indicates combustion problems that need professional help. Make sure side panels are closed and fastened.

Grills and registers

Inspect air return grills and HVAC registers for dust, dirt, and pet hair that impeded airflow. Open and shut registers to ensure they work. Make sure furniture hasn’t wandered over vents.

Air conditioning compressors

Be sure outside compressors are unobstructed by vines, shrubs, and leaves. Check that condensor unit fins are straight and undamaged. Place a level on top of units to detect a tilt, which hurts efficiency. If not level, slip a shim under the unit. Remove the top panel and inspect the fan blades for damage, but don’t repair a bent blade yourself: Call an expert to replace the blade ($200 to $300).

Thermostat check

Inspect thermostats by removing covers to sleuth out dust and dirt that can shorten the life of mechanisms. Remove particles by gently cleaning with a Q-Tip.

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Gone are the days when you always had to rely on pros to take care of the inspection for you. It may be true that you need a qualified HVAC technician to handle repair jobs, but the thing is you can at least help by doing the inspections on your own. You get to save money and time since you no longer have to wait for them to arrive.

(image credit: CanadianComfortSystems.ca)

Next, EnergyStar.gov talks about the cooling and heating maintenance specifics that you need to perform during inspection. These are things that may require more skill and will be a bit more challenging compared to the first set of tips.

Cooling Specific

• Clean evaporator and condenser air conditioning coils. Dirty coils reduce the system’s ability to cool your home and cause the system to run longer, increasing energy costs and reducing the life of the equipment.
• Check your central air conditioner’s refrigerant level and adjust if necessary. Too much or too little refrigerant will make your system less efficient increasing energy costs and reducing the life of the equipment.
• Clean and adjust blower components to provide proper system airflow for greater comfort levels. Airflow problems can reduce your system’s efficiency by up to 15 percent.

Heating Specific

Check all gas (or oil) connections, gas pressure, burner combustion and heat exchanger. Improperly operating gas (or oil) connections are a fire hazard and can contribute to health problems. A dirty burner or cracked heat exchanger causes improper burner operation. Either can cause the equipment to operate less safely and efficiently.

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So the next time you feel like your HVAC is no longer performing the way you expect it to, it means there already is a problem with it, and you should be lucky if the problem is a minor one. In order to prevent the likelihood of having issues in the future, make time to do an inspection.