Everything You Should Know About Heat Pumps
A Look At The Various Parts Of Your HVAC System And Maintenance They Need
Jessica Jimenez
Your HVAC system has a few distinct parts that need to work together to cool and heat your home. All of the parts should be checked and serviced on schedule so one bad part doesn't damage another one. Keeping your HVAC system in good repair with preventative maintenance saves money over time. Here's a look at different parts of your system and some maintenance they need.
The Ducts
If you have sheet metal ducts, they might come apart at the joints or be damaged by a large animal like a raccoon. Animals could even get inside the ducts and leave droppings and nests. Dust can accumulate and affect air quality. You might need the ducts cleaned at some point to get rid of problems like these.
If you have flexible ducts, it's even more important to keep an eye on them since animals in your attic can shred the ducts or the ducts can come loose. If that happens, you'll lose air to the attic, and your home won't cool or heat as it should. You can get ahead of these problems by checking your ducts regularly and repairing leaks in them.
The Thermostat
If the thermostat goes bad, your AC and furnace won't be able to work at all, or they may work but never shut off or short cycle. When your HVAC system isn't working properly, one of the first things to check is the thermostat to make sure it's set properly and able to cycle the equipment properly. When a thermostat goes bad, it may need to be replaced.
The Filter
The filter is more important to your HVAC system than you might guess. If the filter gets clogged, your furnace and AC may shut down. If the equipment struggles to work with a clogged filter, parts can overheat and be damaged. It's essential to change the filter regularly, or you might have to pay a costly repair bill.
The Air Handler
The air handler has both furnace and AC parts. The furnace parts should be cleaned and serviced each fall, especially if you have a gas furnace so the combustion area can be checked. The AC parts include the evaporator coil and condensation drain, which need to be checked each spring before your AC starts running. The blower in the air handler works with the furnace and AC both, so it needs to be checked and cleaned during both service calls if it needs it.
The Condenser
The condenser is the main air conditioner that houses the contactor, capacitor, fan, and compressor. All of these parts are important and need to be serviced annually. In addition, the condenser may need to be cleaned out at the start of the season.
The Disconnect Box
The disconnect box has fuses in it that send power from the electrical panel to the condenser. The box is positioned near the condenser so the HVAC technician can pull the fuses out to kill the power to the unit. The fuses can go bad, and if they do, they need to be replaced or your AC won't start.
Contact an HVAC contractor to learn more.
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Hello. My name is Josiah. I am a 44-year-old married dad of three. I work in the automotive industry and love what I do. Recently, my heating and cooling unit stopped working. I did a lot of research on what type of heating element I should install in my home. I wanted something energy efficient, yet reliable and lasting. After a lot of research, I settled on a heat pump. A heat pump is a great heating and cooling element that many people don't yet know about. I created this blog to help educate other people on heat pumps and answer questions related to it. If you need a new heating or cooling device for your home, I hope my website helps explain to you what a heat pump is and how it can be beneficial.