Owning a home takes a lot of work, patience, and, unfortunately, money. And if you’re a new homeowner, there’s a lot of stuff you probably don’t know. Luckily for you, we’re here to guide you through the process and help you find answers to some of the most common home-owning questions.
Do I Have to Clean My HVAC Unit?
Technically, you don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do, but we definitely recommend cleaning your HVAC unit at least twice a year. There are a few areas to keep in mind as you’re cleaning. Make sure to remove debris, branches, leaves, dust, dirt, etc., from around the condenser unit. This will keep your unit clean and operating efficiently throughout the year. We recommend leaving a two-foot clearance around the unit for good measure.
Next up, care for your evaporator and condenser coils. As dirt collects on the coils, it makes it more difficult for them to absorb heat and cool the air. This forces your air conditioning to work even harder than is necessary and will cost you big time once you see your energy bill.
How Often Do I Have to Replace My Air Filters?
The simple answer is that your air filters need to be replaced at least every 90 days. However, the answer becomes a bit more nuanced when you take into account other factors. There are certain groups of people who are more prone to respiratory irritation or illness, and if that’s the case for you and your family, then we would recommend replacing your filters every 30 days.
Some other factors that will require you to replace air filters more frequently include:
- If you have babies or small children at home
- If you have any pets as they produce dander which can be irritating for some
- If anyone in your house smokes
What is Duct Fogging?
Duct fogging is a method of cleaning your air ducts that is environmentally safe and pet-friendly. This method not only kills germs in your air ducts but it prevents them from growing back, which helps to maintain your home’s indoor air quality long term.
Outside of helping to improve your home’s indoor air quality, duct fogging also has the added benefit of sealing the ducts, reducing odors, sanitizing, and preventing pests from inhabiting your air ducts.
How Often Should I Schedule Electrical Maintenance?
It’s easy to forget about maintaining all of the aspects of your home, but it’s incredibly important to make maintenance a priority, especially for something like your electrical system.
Without regular inspections or maintenance, your electrical system could malfunction and even cause a house fire! At Anderson Plumbing, Heating & Electric, we recommend scheduling electrical maintenance once every one to two years. Throughout this process, we’ll check your major systems like the electric panel, your outlets, particularly ones in the bathrooms and kitchen, just to make sure everything is operating as it should.
What’s the Best Temperature Setting?
The best temperature setting for your home depends on the weather outside. You never want your thermostat to contrast the external weather too much, or else you’ll see your energy bills skyrocket. The general rule of thumb here is that during the winter, your thermostat should be set to 68 degrees, and during the summer, set it to 78 degrees.
If you run into any home situations that have you questioning everything, don’t hesitate to contact our team of home service experts. We understand how overwhelming it can be, and we’re here to take some of the pressure off. Call us today at (334) 231-6980 or visit our website for more information.