HVAC systems are in any enclosed property like family homes, commercial buildings, and some transportation.
It helps with various things but is mainly involved in air quality and temperature.
But what exactly does HVAC stand for?
HVAC stands for Heating, Ventilation, and Air conditioning.
The name signifies its different uses, which are for both heating and cooling.
HVAC can also control the humidity level, air quality and remove odors indoors.
Before learning about the bad habits that we should avoid, it is first essential to know how an HVAC system and its parts work.
How does an HVAC system work?
Air Return
This part is where the air starts to get sucked in and pass through a filter.
Its purpose is to remove air from a room and recondition it into the system for either heating or cooling.
Blower
The blower is what moves warm air inside and into the central unit.
This powers a fan that pushes warm air into the ducts and the rooms of our homes.
Coils
The coils are one of the most important parts of the HVAC system.
It is used to cool the air that passes through it using refrigerant and releases heat outdoors.
Ducts
The purpose of the ducts is to distribute air indoors.
These are normally placed in the ceilings and walls
Filter
The filter is what gathers dirt and dust particles as the air gets sucked into the main system.
Furnace
The furnace part handles driving heated or cooled air throughout the system.
It is commonly located in a utility room, basement, or attic.
Outdoor Unit
This handles the airflow that goes into the main unit, and it is typically located outside of the home.
Thermostat
The thermostat is what manipulates the temperature inside our homes.
It has sensors that tell the system the required temperature throughout the house.
Common Bad Habits to Avoid
Some habits can damage our HVAC or prevent it from using its full potential.
We don’t even realize we do; however, we can quickly correct them to avoid creating issues.
For many others, the bad habit is forgetting to change the air filter.
The air filter needs cleaning at least once a month, but it needs to be cleaned more for people with pets.
The fur our pets shed often does get into the air filter of the air conditioner, preventing good airflow.
We’ll spend more money since we have to increase the fan speed because the room won’t get as cold.
Don’t Touch That Thermostat
During hot weather, we tend to change the thermostat often each time it gets hotter.
At first, we didn’t think this would be a bad habit, but it is.
Thermostats function best when it stays on one temperature.
We didn’t know at the time that changing it is what’s keeping the place hot during summer.
Changing often affects long-term efficiency, too, the more we readjust the temperature.
If you have that habit, also, it’s best to fix that.
It is recommended that we find a comfortable temperature and keep it there.
Go for a low enough temperature during summer so we won’t feel the need to change it.
Listen to Warning Signs
Many HVAC owners like us either don’t notice it or outright ignore it, but we have to know when to get the HVAC checked.
Once that HVAC starts making clunky noises, then it’s telling us it needs help.
So the first thing to do is check possible causes, check first if something is blocking it.
We should remove anything clogging it, whether it’s dust, mold, or debris.
If it’s the airflow, we should either clean or replace the air filter.
We should also check the vents to make sure something unwanted is not inside there.
When it’s none of these problems, it is best to call the repair person.
It is not recommended to ignore warning signs until it gets this bad.
We should at least schedule maintenance yearly.
Other HVAC owners can repair and do the maintenance themselves.
Unless you have experience with repairing these systems, it is not recommended to do so.
Some people think it’s easy to fix it themselves, but sometimes they make it worse.
A habit we all should avoid is fixing something we have little knowledge about.
