5 HVAC Maintenance Tips for Temperature Fluctuations

Virginia weather can often be unpredictable in the fall. You can start the week out wearing shorts and a t-shirt, and two days later, be desperately searching for your winter coat buried in the closet. The fall season can bring a 30-degree change in temperature within a single day, so it's no wonder we're constantly flipping our AC on and off.

Constant fluctuations in temperature can put a serious strain on your HVAC system. Asking your HVAC system to switch between cool and warm all day isn't just extra work – it's extra money. There's a reason we often see higher energy bills in the fall and spring. Exterior temperatures and climate can certainly impact how efficiently your HVAC equipment heats and cools your home.

Fortunately, there are some simple ways to help regulate the temperature and maintain your HVAC system, making your home's environment more comfortable while also extending the life of your heating and cooling equipment.

5 Ways to Help Out Your HVAC System

Your HVAC system works hard for you year-round, so it's important to perform routine maintenance throughout the changing seasons.

Here are a few ways you can keep your system in tip-top condition without breaking the bank:

1. Seal and Insulate Air Ducts. According to Energy Star, about 20 to 30% of conditioned air can be lost through the duct system due to holes, leaks and poorly sealed ducts. Sealing air leaks in accessible ducts with mastic sealant or metal tape can help reduce air loss. Also, making sure ducts are properly sealed around vents and registers can help your HVAC system run more efficiently. While these solutions offer fast repairs, reach out to us for a more permanent and effective solution with our Aeroseal technology to reach every possible crevice and leak within your ductwork.
2. Inspect Your Indoor Unit. When something is out of sight, it's easily out of mind as well. Performing regular HVAC maintenance, like cleaning the condenser coils or changing out air filters, can extend the life of your HVAC system. A clean system will perform more efficiently, making it easier to adjust to temperature fluctuations.
3. Inspect Your Outdoor Unit. We often focus on the indoor parts of an HVAC system when something goes wrong. However, the outdoor unit is more likely to experience organic issues, like storm debris covering the filter, overgrown roots or vines impacting its performance, and even excessive pollen clogging up condensing units.
4. Insulation. If your home is poorly insulated, it can have difficulty retaining heat or cool air. This can cause your HVAC system to run longer to compensate for the loss and keep up with rapid temperature changes. This can be very expensive in the long run. Properly insulating the attic, walls and crawl space is highly recommended.
5. Install a Zoning System. Zoning systems allow you to control the temperature in every room or zone of your home. With thermostats in every zone and automatic dampers in the ducts, you can control airflow more precisely. When used with a programmable thermostat, these systems have been proven to save up to 35% on heating and cooling costs.

Maintain Your HVAC System with Bradley Mechanical

Bradley Mechanical offers numerous services to help maintain your HVAC all year long. In fact, our ESA PRO Maintenance program provides our customers with regular tune-ups and cleanings. We're proud to have one of the most comprehensive and detailed tune-ups in the industry today. Our tune-ups include:

• Inspecting the entire system for potential failures
• Cleaning indoor/outdoor coils, blower wheel and drain lines
• Application of a protective UV-resistant coating to the outdoor unit
• Monitoring of refrigerant pressures
• Testing for safety controls and starting components
• Much more!

Becoming an ESA PRO member will improve your HVAC system over time and give you peace of mind knowing your investment is being well taken care of. Most of our customers report increased system efficiency after our first tune-up. And if your unit needs repairs, we provide an additional 15% off parts and repairs for our members.

Want to start saving on your energy bill today and improve the efficiency of your HVAC unit? Give Bradley Mechanical a call or schedule an appointment online. We are Richmond and Central Virginia's HVAC experts. Our team of trained technicians has been trusted for over 50 years!