5 Essential Tips to Protect Your HVAC Unit This Summer in Texas

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Recently, while recording a show called The Tanya Harbin Real Estate Hour, I was informed that the local torrential downpours and the sweltering 100°-plus temperatures are taking their toll on our HVAC systems. Then I learned that there are some things we homeowners can do to offer some relief to your unit.

This first tip, I never thought about this until I thought about it, and it makes a whole lot of sense. When you're mowing your yard whether the wind is blowing or not, make sure you turn your HVAC system OFF when you're in the vicinity of your outside unit. It will save you a lot of trouble as the grass clippings tend to get sucked into the outdoor compressor fins and begin to limit the airflow.

#1 Never mow your grass around your HVAC unit while it's running

Once you have cleaned anything that might be clogging the condenser vents it's a good idea to make sure your inside unit can breathe just as easily. The second tip and probably the most important part of taking care of your HVAC system is changing the filter regularly and keeping it clean.

To keep us reminded of changing the filters regularly my wife ordered ours through the mail, and they arrive once a month to remind us it's time to change the air filters.  If the filters are not clean your system has to work twice as hard to push cool air into every room. Never change the filter while it's running.

#2 Change the filters whether monthly, quarterly, or biannually

The third tip is more cleaning. To get your HVAC unit running more smoothly you should clean both the inside and the outside units. By clearing out all the fuzz, fur, dust, hair, and other debris the entire system will run more efficiently. Keep in mind that if you have pets pet dander is one of the biggest killers of home heating and air conditioning systems.

#3 Clean and vacuum both the indoor and outside units

The fourth tip is, to have your system checked out thoroughly by HVAC professionals at least twice a year. Especially in Texas where the temperatures can vary from freezing or 100° plus days for weeks on end. Furthermore, they will be able to check the freon level to make sure the system is running like new.

#4 Have the system checked by authorized licensed HVAC technicians annually

Believe it or not, your home's heating and air conditioning system is a lot like a child in the fact that it has to have consistency. While chatting with the real estate team and the HVAC professional I asked "Why is it that HVAC systems go out weeks after somebody buys the house?"

The answer was eye-opening: the system is accustomed to specific temperatures, like a set bedtime and playtime. If the previous owners preferred 80° at night and 77° during the day, and the new owners prefer 70° at night and 65° during the day, it stresses the unit.

The fifth tip is to get a good thermostat, set it, and let the HVAC system do its thing. then sit back and enjoy. Source: Family Handyman

#5  Getting a good programmable thermostat then set it and let it do its thing