The Ultimate Guide to Your HVAC Maintenance

You might have heard people, including industry professionals, use the terms HVAC and AC interchangeably. These terms are typically used to reference any air conditioning or heating device.

However, there is a difference. AC, short for air conditioning, is a system designed to cool the air in your home. HVAC, short for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning on the other hand, is responsible for heating, cooling, and ventilating your house. An HVAC system can include the furnace, AC, and any ducts or vents. While all HVAC units include air conditioning, not all air conditioning units are HVAC units.

For instance, window units and mini-split systems are air conditioning units that are not HVAC units. These separate air conditioners are alternative ways to cool individual rooms or spaces. They do not always include heat or ventilation.

On the other hand, if you have a central air conditioning system (the most common way to cool and heat your home), then you do have an HVAC system. Central air conditioning systems are connected through complicated ductwork in order to cool, heat, and ventilate the entire house. When properly maintained, these systems can last more than 15 years.

Heating and air conditioning units can cost anywhere from $1,000 to – 7,000.

The price will vary greatly depending on your needs, including:

• The size of the unit
• The brand of the unit
• The cost of installation

Plus, you have to take your ductwork into consideration. If you have a large home with extensive ductwork, then you can expect to pay more.

It’s important to replace your HVAC filter regularly to ensure that your unit is working properly. Typically, industry professionals recommend that you change your filter every few months. If you have pets or live in a high-pollen area, you might even want to change it out every month or two. You might need to change your air filter more if you use your system more, you have a larger house, or you live in an area with poor air quality.

What happens if you don’t replace your air filter?

• The fan has to work harder to push out air. When dirt builds up, your HVAC system needs more energy to work. This could lead to wear and tear and higher energy bills.
• Lack of consistent air. If you have a dirty filter, the temperature in your house isn’t being easily regulated. This could impact the temperature sensors, which influences when your system turns on or off.
• Risk of overheating or freezing up. Since the heated or cooled air can’t travel out of the furnace easily, the system can overheat or freeze up.
• Moisture can gather. The dirt on your air filter provides the perfect environment for moisture to gather, encouraging mold or bacteria to grow. This can introduce pollutants into your air as well as block circulating air.

Here’s the deal:

If you don’t do any HVAC maintenance, your energy bill could increase, your air quality could deteriorate, and you could suffer other maintenance issues in the future.

In short, yes.

It’s important not to wait until your system breaks down before you get your HVAC system seen by a professional. Even if you can DIY HVAC repairs, there could still be underlying issues that you wouldn’t notice.

When you’re looking at HVAC maintenance contracts, be sure to ask what’s covered. Does it include:

• Labor cost
• Unplanned repairs
• Costs of selected parts

Typically, there is more than one reason that your system isn’t working correctly. That’s why we recommend having a maintenance plan with professional heating and air company like Capistrano Air.

Is your AC blowing hot air? If so, it could be for several reasons, including:

• Thermostat isn’t set correctly. First things first, be sure to check that your thermostat isn’t set to “heat.” Also check to see if it’s set to “on” – if so, then your HVAC unit could be set to blow air even when the AC isn’t cooling.
• Your air filter needs to be changed. If your air filter hasn’t been replaced in a long time or you haven’t had HVAC maintenance done this year, then airflow could be a problem.
• Outside unit isn’t working. Many HVAC systems are made up of indoor and outdoor components. If your AC is only blowing hot air, then the outdoor unit may not be getting electricity.
• Low on refrigerant/freon. HVAC systems run on a refrigerant that cools your home. A Freon leak would leave the air warm.

What’s the bottom line?

Some of these issues require calling in a professional to look at your system to ensure it’s running properly. We don’t recommend doing DIY HVAC repairs because there are a lot of issues that you might not be able to recognize, plus you could accidentally cause more damage in the future.

Look: Making sure you have reliable heating and the air is very important in Southern California, especially when the heat waves start rolling around in the summer.

You might need to repair your HVAC unit if you’ve encountered one of the issues below:

• Low heat levels or AC blowing hot air – If the air from the heater isn’t as hot or the AC is blowing hot air, you could have a clogged burner or a breach in the ducts.
• Air flow issues – Is the air blowing weakly from your HVAC unit? If so, you could have a problem with your fan or there could be a blockage in the ducts.
• Frequent cycling – Does your HVAC unit cycle on and off constantly? If so, you probably need to clean your air filter and check for proper circulation.
• It hasn’t been looked at in years – If you haven’t had HVAC maintenance done in years, it’s time to hire a professional to make sure it’s working properly.

Do you need a new HVAC unit? We can help. We’ve been providing Heating and Air Conditioning services throughout Orange County for over 20 years. Let us get started with your HVAC installation or repairs. We can help with HVAC installation, maintenance, and repairs. Give us a call at (949) 481-9605.