“A lot of people cut the life of their equipment short by skipping regular maintenance,” says Steve Schultz, manager of Cold Craft, Inc. in Campbell. “You should arrange for annual inspections of your heating or air conditioning system to ensure it’s running at peak efficiency. Preventive maintenance calls are relatively inexpensive and will result in future cost savings.”
Your role in maintaining your air conditioning or heating system is just as important as the job of the service technician who performs the annual inspection. Consider the following tips for between-visit maintenance:
• Change your furnace and air conditioning filters once a month, even if the manufacturer recommends every other month. This is especially important during the summer, when dust and allergens circulate.
• Remove plants, fallen branches and debris from around your outdoor HVAC equipment. Objects that are too close can prevent adequate air flow.
• Regularly vacuum indoor registers and air vents. Many heating contractors say dust and dirt cause almost half of their service calls.
• Move furniture and drapes away from registers.
