Are you a new homeowner, and this is the first time you are dealing with an HVAC system? There are plenty of things you need to know about. Here are HVAC tips every beginner needs to know as given by furnace repair service providers:

You should know all the HVAC parts

HVAC units have many parts that you should know where they are located and how they look like. These parts include:

Thermostat: This wall-mounted box helps the entire unit control the temperature. It lets the heating unit know when to come on and when to go off.

Furnace: This heating unit uses various heat sources such as solar, electricity, or heat pump. The furnace is designed to heat air and move it through your house via ductwork.

Condensing unit: You will find this outside your house, and it’s usually filled with refrigerant gas. When the gas cools, it’s sent to the evaporator coil to help with cooling the air.

Evaporator coil: A vital part that helps cool the air when you adjust the thermostat.

Vents: These are openings in the ceiling and floor that allow the heated air to pass through.

You should know the type of HVAC system you have

Besides knowing the different parts of an HVAC system, it’s vital you know the types of systems you have. Most homes have central heating systems, but ductless mini-split and window-attached systems are also popular.

You also should know whether you have natural gas, electric, or heat pump.

You need to take care of your system.

Knowing the various parts of your system and how they work isn’t enough—you need to know how to keep your heating unit in top shape. Thankfully, there are plenty of ways to do it. Some of these ways include:

Clean the air filters regularly

The air filters regulate the air getting in and out of the heating system. Due to their work, they are usually prone to dust and debris clogging.

When you go for a long time without cleaning them, they make the furnace work harder than it should, which not only shoots your electricity bill, but also reduces the lifespan of the appliance.

To be on the safe side, make it a habit to clean your air filters at least once every three months.

The beauty of cleaning the filters is you don’t need specialized skills. This means that you can clean them by yourself without requiring the services of an expert.

Besides cleaning the filters, make it a habit to clean the rest of the heating system. The beauty is you don’t have to clean it as often as the filters—cleaning the other parts once every six months is enough.

Tune-up the appliance

You also need to tune up your appliance at least once a year to ensure that it’s in top working condition and consuming as little energy as possible. The tune-up involves inspecting the entire unit and fixing or replacing any faulty parts.

You can do the tune-up if you have the skills, but it’s always good to leave the work to experienced professionals that know what they are doing.

Keep the ductwork clean.

When the ductwork is dirty or leaking, the heating system functions inefficiently, which wastes a lot of your money. A tell-tale sign that your unit has dirty ductwork is weird noises.

Ductwork is sensitive, so it’s best left to professionals, so you need to find experts that will inspect the unit, clean it, and fix any problem areas.

You need to build relationships with licensed contractors

You will need contractors in your heating system ownership journey. You will need them to regularly inspect your unit, fix the problematic parts, tune up the appliance once a year, and sometimes address your emergency needs. For example, when the furnace stops working in the middle of a freezing night.

To have an easy time, you need to build relationships with experienced and knowledgeable furnace service Long Island professionals that know what they are doing.

An ideal contractor should be licensed to work in your local area. They also should be certified by the relevant boards.