While having a Pittsburgh HVAC technician a phone call away is always wise, there are still some do-it-yourself options available to make sure your home’s furnace and air conditioning unit are performing up to par. Follow along as our team of professional technicians walks you through the steps to identify and repair sources of energy-wasting issues in your home’s HVAC unit.
DIY HVAC Inspection Tips from Tudi Mechanical Systems
Inspecting the Furnace
Even if you stay up on top of DIY inspections, it’s important that you have your furnace professionally inspected and repaired at least every other year if not more. A professional Pittsburgh HVAC technician can assist you in extending the life of your furnace by removing dust from air tubes, cleaning the burners and ensuring that your unit is operating safely and at maximum efficiency.
In between inspections, take some time every few months to check your furnace filter about once a month. Changing out a dirty filter can pay off huge in the life of your unit and your home’s utility costs. Whenever you are installing a fresh filter, make sure the air-direction indicator is pointing in the proper direction to make the most of your unit’s efficiency.
Cleaning the Ductwork
While often ignored in favor of maintaining the HVAC system itself, your home’s ductwork should be routinely checked in order to keep your home running efficiently. Duct cleaning can be completed either on your own or with a professional’s help. Clean, well-sealed ductwork can ensure that no air flowing through your home is being lost along the way.
Auditing Your HVAC System’s Efficiency
Heating and cooling combine for almost half of your home’s total energy consumption, so performing a routine HVAC audit may just be the key to helping you save money. Start off by making a list of where you feel the drafts are in your home. After closing off different areas of the home and shutting down combustion appliances, light some incense sticks and turn on your home’s exhaust fan or a large window fan to circulate air throughout the home.
Any drafts will cause the plume of the smoke to waver or flow in the direction of an air leakage, helping you determine where energy is being lost in every room of the home. Additionally, be sure to check for air movement around outlets, wall switches, storm windows and doors to help cut back on your home’s utility costs.
If you’re looking for ways to save throughout your home, get in touch with the full-service technicians from Tudi Mechanical Systems. Under our Home Comfort Plan, your home is sure to be comfortable all year round, as our Pittsburgh HVAC technicians, plumbers, electricians and more work all year round to help you keep your home in tip-top shape. Call a Tudi technician today for your free home energy estimate, and discover the ways that we can help you save this season!