Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) equipment provides heating and cooling for your home. The HVAC system may also be responsible for providing fresh outdoor air to dilute interior airborne contaminants such as odors from occupants, volatile organic compounds (VOC’s) emitted from interior furnishings, chemicals used for cleaning, etc. When properly maintained, a well-designed system will provide a comfortable indoor environment year-round. When conducting furnace inspections, Bill Bitz looks for a steady heat supply. With fossil fuel appliances that means a steady blue flame and minimal orange, which can indicate an inadequate fuel air mixture. An inadequate fuel air mixture is a concern because it could signify a cracked heat exchanger, which can lead to carbon monoxide entering the living space. Yikes. Some systems have humidifiers which helps add humidity to the air to make it feel warmer. Warning signs for HVAC issues are:
- Noisy units
- Sudden increases in utility bills
- Uneven temperatures throughout your home
- Moisture or leaks around your system
- Strange odors around your vents
The most important maintenance step you can take with your HVAC system is filter replacement. Bill recommends changing your filter at least every 90 days, so his trcik for staying on top of it is changing your filter every time you get a water bill. With regular filter replacement and annual maintenance, most systems will stay ahead of the game. Fossil fuel appliances will last for about 20-40 years and a heat pump will operate for about 8-10 years.