As a homeowner, one of your most important responsibilities is ensuring that your HVAC system is properly maintained and cared for. This significant investment plays a vital role in keeping your home comfortable and healthy by regulating the temperature, humidity, and air quality in your living spaces.
Neglecting to properly care for your HVAC system can lead to several problems, including reduced system efficiency, higher-than-usual energy bills, poor indoor air quality, and potential health hazards. By taking proactive steps to care for your HVAC system, you ensure that it continues to function effectively and efficiently through all seasons while also promoting a healthier and more comfortable living environment for you and your loved ones.
Florida Summers and Your HVAC System
Florida summers are extremely hot and humid, which can put a great deal of strain on your HVAC system. Certain aspects of Florida summers, in particular, can impact your system and cause the need for repair and possible replacement.
High Temperatures
Extreme heat and humidity levels can tax an HVAC system, pushing it to its limits. When extreme temperatures rage across your home and property, your system has to work much harder than normal to keep your home cool and comfortable. This constant cycling overworks your system, leading to increased wear and tear on components and potentially resulting in breakdowns that need repair.
High humidity levels make your home feel warmer than it actually is; this may cause you to turn down your thermostat to battle excessive moisture. Increased demand for system cooling will increase your energy bills and reduce your unit’s efficiency. Running your AC for long periods at a time in humid weather can cause evaporator coils to become too cold, leading to condensation that freezes and obstructs airflow.
Excess Moisture
Excess moisture in the air is an ideal breeding ground for mold growth in your HVAC system and home. If left unchecked, this mold and its harmful airborne spores can spread and cause a number of allergies and health problems for you and your family.
High humidity also leads to an increase in the number of airborne pollutants in our home such as bacteria, dust mites, and other allergens. This can reduce your indoor air quality, leading to health problems over time for you and your loved ones.
Tropical Storms
Severe summer storms impact your HVAC system in a number of ways. These violent storms cause power outages that can shut down your system, which is especially problematic during hot and humid weather. Lightning strikes and power surges during violent weather can cause electrical damage to your system, causing the need for repair or possible replacement.
Heavy rains during storms can also lead to flooding that damages components in your system, particularly if it is located in a basement or lower room of your home. Outdoor units can be damaged by flying debris and other residues that builds up on fins, coils, and other parts of the unit that need to be clear in order to perform as intended.
Salty Air
Salty sea air can corrode the metal components of your HVAC system’s outer unit. This leads to rusting and other types of corrosion that weaken components and cause them to fail. Salt crust on outdoor coils and fins can reduce your HVAC system’s efficiency by restricting airflow.
This same salt can also cause air filters to become clogged more quickly, leading to reduced indoor air quality and possible damage to your system’s blower motor. Your unit will ultimately have a shorter lifespan if proactive HVAC maintenance isn’t performed to offset some of the unique summer conditions that take their toll on your system.
Summer Tips to Care for Your System
Summer HVAC care is especially important in Florida, where high temps and humidity levels cause daily strain on all its components. If you want to make sure your unit is up and running when you need it most, follow these simple care steps for optimized HVAC function and ultimate comfort.
Monitor and Change Air Filters Regularly
A dirty air filter significantly reduces your HVAC system’s efficiency and indoor air quality. As a filter becomes saturated, it decreases the efficiency of airflow through your system, causing it to work harder than it normally would to heat and cool your home. Changing your air filter regularly is the best way to protect your blower fan mechanism and keep indoor air quality optimized during hotter months.
Keep Outdoor Units Clean
The outdoor component of your HVAC system can quickly become clogged with dirt, debris, grass clippings, and residue from salty sea air. Regularly cleaning and inspecting your unit will help to maintain proper airflow and reduce strain on all your system’s components.
Check Thermostat Settings
Make sure your thermostat is set to appropriate temperatures for your comfort and your unit’s energy efficiency. When leaving your home for an extended period of time, consider raising temps slightly to reduce the strain on your system and save on energy costs.
A programmable thermostat may help you save energy and money by automatically regulating your home’s temperature for you as it learns your patterns of use. You’ll arrive home to cool comfort each day, and when you are away, smart technology will trigger your system to save energy by elevating temps by a few degrees.
Test Humidity Levels in Your Home
Testing moisture and humidity levels in your home is essential in Florida as excess moisture can damage both your unit and cause the harmful buildup of pollutants and toxins in your indoor air. Adding a humidifier to your HVAC system will allow for seamless regulation of moisture and humidity levels, allowing you to set it at different percentages to offset outdoor air quality.
Consider an Upgrade
If your HVAC system is old, outdated, or inefficient, it may be costing you more money than it’s worth to operate. Upgrading to a new, more energy-efficient system will save you money on monthly energy bills and improve your home comfort in indoor living spaces.
Schedule Preventative Inspection and Maintenance
A professional HVAC technician can perform a thorough inspection of your whole HVAC system to quickly identify any potential problems before they become major issues. They can also perform routine maintenance like cleaning coils and lubricating moving parts to keep your system running efficiently.
At American Air, Plumbing, and Electrical, we have been proudly serving valued clients in Oviedo and all of south Florida and beyond with valuable services related to AC repair, service, and installation, heating repair, installation, and maintenance, thermostat installation, ductless mini split service, and indoor air quality inspections. We get your system running efficiently when you need it most! Don’t suffer through a sweltering Florida summer without the cool, efficient comfort that you need from your HVAC system. Contact American Air, Plumbing, and Electrical today to see how we can improve your home’s energy efficiency and provide you with comfortable, well-regulated temperatures year-round!
