What you need to know about your HVAC system

This article was written for our sponsor, Newcomb and Company

With warm weather coming, is your HVAC system ready?

As a homeowner, you want your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system to be in top shape all year long. And, there are steps you can take to help make that happen.

Professionals from Newcomb and Company, one of the Triangle’s most trusted HVAC companies since 1954, provide answers to seven common questions they get on how homeowners can help maintain the health of their system.

How often should you change the filter?

Without proper filtration, contaminants get into the air you breathe. As such, plan to change the filter every one to three months, depending on, for example, if you have shedding pets or want to avoid allergens when there is a high pollen count.

Changing the filter will also extend the life of your unit.

"It keeps the coils from clogging up, and it enhances the efficiency." said Luke Tarnaski, service manager at Newcomb and Company. "When the unit is working as efficiently as possible, that's when it's going to last the longest."

How should you clean your unit?

You can keep your outdoor unit running by regularly cleaning leaves, pollen, sticks, and other debris that block airflow.

"You can just spray it off with water," said Tarnaski. "It goes back to efficiency. If that outdoor unit is dirty, it’s not going to perform the way you want it to, which is going to cause premature failure."

Once it’s clean, an HVAC technician can install a mesh guard on top to prevent future blockage.

Should you switch to a smart thermostat?

Updating to smart technology can make a thermostat easier to use while lowering your energy bill.

"They're more accurate," said Tarnaski. "You'll notice power bills can go down because of that, because you're not kicking on the heat trips as often when it's not necessary."

How often should you have your HVAC system checked?

To keep your HVAC system working at peak performance, Tarnaski recommends getting routine maintenance twice a year. Technicians can get a lot done during the approximately hour long appointment.

"We have a little conversation beforehand, then get down to business: clear the drains, clean out the unit, clean the indoor unit coils, flush the drain lines, and check the ductwork," said Tarnaski. "While we're down there, we'll check the plumbing to see if anything's going on with that. [We] check for any signs of rodent activity, bugs, that kind of thing, and the overall efficiency of the system."

If you sign up for an HVAC Comfort Contract, you’ll get two maintenance visits per year, service discounts, priority service, system performance inspections, and safety checks.

Do you need to check ductwork?

Outdated ductwork or obstructions could damage your HVAC unit.

"We get a lot of birds in North Carolina that like to build nests in [duct work]," said Tarnaski. "And in summertime, when the A/C is running, it's pulling that moist air into the house and it's hitting that cold air, which causes sweat as well."

A professional may need to upgrade your insulation if you notice moisture on the outside of your ductwork.

Is it better to repair or replace a broken HVAC unit?

An HVAC unit typically lasts 10 to 15 years, said Tarnaski. Older units may end up being less expensive to replace than continually repair, especially if they have irreplaceable parts, such as the R22 refrigerant used in older systems.

"Should I repair or replace? That's a big question nowadays because R22s phased out, and we have got a lot of older systems," said Tarnaski. "People like to hang onto things, even though it costs an arm and a leg."

How do you choose a maintenance company?

Before hiring any company, you should feel comfortable asking questions.

"Are you licensed and insured? And then, what are your years of experience? That should be a priority question," he said.

You should also ask if the company offers a maintenance contract. "If you like the service, you obviously want to have them back to maintain the unit," said Tarnaski.

Newcomb and Company has a history of providing quality service since it opened almost 70 years ago.

"That's been our goal, day one of 1954," said Tarnaski.

This article was written for our sponsor, Newcomb and Company