Congrats on purchasing your first home! You are no doubt pleased with your investment, though you might feel weighed down by all these new responsibilities. Now that you’re the owner, not the renter, it’s your job to care for all your home’s appliances and systems, including the heating and cooling equipment.

If the only interaction you’ve ever had with a furnace or air conditioner is to use the thermostat, you have plenty to learn. Try these HVAC system suggestions for new homeowners.

Know the Different Elements of an HVAC System

HVAC stands for heating, ventilation and air conditioning. Unless you live in a perpetually comfortable climate, your new home likely has this system to keep you warm in the winter and cool throughout the summer. Here are the important parts of an HVAC system:

Comfort units, such as an air conditioner, air-source heat pump, furnace, boiler, geothermal heat pump or ductless mini-split, to name a few possibilities.
Ductwork fixed to return and supply registers in the case of air-forced systems such as ACs, heat pumps and furnaces.
Radiators or hot water distribution systems in the case of boilers.
Indoor air quality products, such as an air filter, whole-house humidifier, whole-house dehumidifier, air purifier or energy-recovery ventilator.
Thermostat for indoor comfort control.

Appreciate the Importance of Preventive Maintenanceeeeee

When you were renting your home, your landlord most likely took care of HVAC maintenance tasks such as replacing the air filter. They may or may not have foot the bill for thorough heating and cooling inspections.

Now that you’re taking care of things, you can give preventive maintenance the attention it deserves. First, prioritize these do-it-yourself HVAC maintenance tasks:

Change the air filter every 30 to 90 days.
Carefully hose down the outdoor unit and pare back vegetation to improve airflow.
Keep all air registers open to maintain proper system balance.

Then, schedule yearly maintenance for each HVAC unit. Only a qualified professional can execute in-depth tasks like cleaning the furnace burners, recharging the AC refrigerant and measuring air leaks in the ductwork. Expect the following benefits when you get a professional to inspect your system once a year:

Energy savings
Fewer breakdowns
Lower repair bills
Superior home comfort
Extended system life span
Peace of mind

Look Out for Signs of Trouble

Repairing and replacing the HVAC system is the homeowner’s job. Watch for these signals that it’s time to contact a heating and cooling professional:

Excess noise: Don’t dismiss a whining, rattling, clanking or banging sound. It could be a cry for help from your furnace or air conditioner.
Comfort or air quality trouble: Inconsistent temperatures, high or low humidity, stagnant rooms and mold-like smells are often linked to defective HVAC equipment.
Reduced energy efficiency: Are your bills unexpectedly increasing? This might mean your heating and cooling system isn’t running correctly.
Old age: Like all mechanical systems, HVAC systems eventually wear out. The average life span of a furnace or boiler is 15 years, while air conditioners and heat pumps run just about a decade.

Learn More About the HVAC Replacement Process

If your damaged furnace or air conditioner can’t be restored, you’ll need to replace it with an HVAC professional's help. Here’s how it works:

Explain the problem to the technician and permit them to explore it more in-depth.
The technician will determine the problem and suggest the best solutions. A repair could be viable, but depending on the unit’s condition and age, a replacement can be more cost-effective.
You can obtain various opinions and estimates from available contractors if you prefer.
When you work with Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing, a residential sales consultant will determine what HVAC system, brand, fuel type and efficiency rating is best for you.
The contractor will then provide a written estimate detailing the work necessary, the equipment they’ll install and the final cost. You may also get info about warranty coverage, service plans and financing options.
Schedule the installation after you pick what system you want. The technician will handle everything, like hauling away the old equipment for safe disposal.
The sales consultant can walk through the new system with you, explaining how to use it, addressing any questions and providing all the needed documentation.

Call Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing

If you have concerns about these HVAC system basics, ] to reach out to Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing. We prioritize customer education to help you make an informed decision about your HVAC system. Our team is well-versed in a full range of HVAC services, so give us a call for everything from furnace maintenance to AC repair to heat pump installation. For more info or to ask for an estimate, please get in touch with your local Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing office today.