When it comes to your HVAC system, you’re not doing yourself any favors if you’re playing into the various myths and falsehoods that are abundant about HVAC system. There are countless competitive HVAC companies in the industry, and just about every single house has need of a heating and air conditioning system. Between contractors that spread misinformation to get more business, and homeowners that propagate false facts believing they’re real, there are more than enough fictions to go around.
At Powerhouse Heating and Air Conditioning, we take this business seriously. With 18+ years of experience, our commitment has been serving the people of Blair and Omaha with honesty and integrity. We’re a family-run business who puts people first, and because of this mission, we want to help dispel some of the myths about HVAC systems that you might be falling for.
Part 1 – Myths About HVAC Maintenance and Longevity
This is a two-part series; in part one, we’ll examine common misconceptions regarding your device’s maintenance and longevity. There are a lot of tall tales regarding the health of your HVAC system, along with what you can and can’t do about it. In part two, we’ll explore the myths pertaining to energy efficiency and home temperature.
Myth: The Air Filter Only Needs to be Changed Once a Year
Change your filter once a month. Change your filter once a month. Change your filter once a month! If there’s one piece of advice that HVAC companies wish they could just scream at the top of their lungs, it’s probably this. The importance of changing your air filters really can’t be understated; it will do so much for improving the longevity of your HVAC system.
All of the air that circulates in and out of your house passes through the filter. The filter is there to catch contaminants and particles that you don’t want getting in. But think of it like a strainer; when you’re emptying the water from your mac n’ cheese, it only works when the openings in your strainer are letting water through. If you covered most of them up, much less water would get through and you’d have to wait a lot longer for the water to get out.
In a similar way, your air filter can get so clogged up with gunk that it’s harder for the air to get through. That causes your HVAC to push harder, which then causes you to spend more money on energy costs. Even better, if the problem persists, your poor HVAC system might just work itself to death, and then you’re spending even more money on costly repairs or a replacement altogether.
So, say it with us—once a month. Got it? Good. Now say it three more times.
Myth: You Need to Call an HVAC Contractor to Repair Your Air Filter
As much as we’d like to be selfish here and say that you need to call us every time you want to change your filter, it’s just not true. At Powerhouse Heating and Air Conditioning, we want to help you with your every HVAC need, and that includes the things that you can do on your own, for cheap, without our help.
While there are many repairs that should be left to professionals (more on that later), changing an air filter isn’t one of them. In fact, it’s not even a repair; it’s just simple maintenance that goes a long way, such as keeping your tire pressure in check on your car. Air filters are cheap and relatively easy to change out. There are numerous HVAC systems so we can’t give a blanket statement on how exactly to change your filter, but we’d be happy to tell you how to do it if you give us a call! We’ve been helping people in the Blair and Omaha area with their HVAC needs for almost twenty years; we’re happy to help you learn the tricks of self-maintenance.
Myth: You Should Do Other More Complicated Repairs By Yourself to Save Money
Now that we’ve told you a simple thing that you can and should do on your own, we’re going to turn around and say that there are things you shouldn’t attempt without calling an HVAC company.
It’s true that, for most devices these days, there’s a wealth of resources online devoted to helping you be able to make your own repairs for cheap. We admire those who have the gumption to take things into their own hands. But don’t be mistaken; making a mistake in self-repairs can make your problem a lot worse, and burn a much bigger hole in that wallet than a professional service would have.
There are people who are adept at these things and there are exceptions to every rule, but as a general caution, we would advise the majority of homeowners to avoid repairing complicated problems by yourself. It often requires unit disassembly, disconnecting and reconnecting wires, and so on. A lot of mistakes can be made, and they won’t be worth the cheap price tag on that fan belt you just bought online.
Myth: If it Ain’t Broken, Don’t Fix It
Perhaps a more fitting way to phrase this myth would be “if it ain’t broken, don’t schedule maintenance checkups for it.” In other words, a lot of people believe that, as long as there’s nothing that’s blatantly wrong with their HVAC system, there’s no need to get it checked up. Sadly, this is rarely ever true. Have you ever had a car, an appliance, a computer, or any other piece of technology you constantly use that doesn’t deteriorate with neglect?
The reality is that calling local HVAC companies for service appointments goes a long way. Much like a car, HVAC systems are complicated beasts that can be hiding a host of unseen problems under the hood. Regular maintenance check-ups will catch these, allowing you to fix hidden problems before they become worse. On the other hand, if your system truly is fine, your HVAC contractors can do essential preventative maintenance that will leave your unit less susceptible to breaking down in the future.
The biggest obstacle to this for most people is the price. At Powerhouse Heating and Air Conditioning, we strive to make our rates as affordable and fair as possible to the residents of the Blair and Omaha area. We also offer a free quote and benefits to first-time customers. If you’re wondering how much routine maintenance might run you, contact us today!
Your Local HVAC Experts Can Help
Heating and Air Conditioning repair is a tough beast; not only does it require a professional touch, it can also be an extreme inconvenience to you and your family if it goes untreated for extended periods of time. At Powerhouse Heating and Air Conditioning, we put the needs of our customers above everything else.
Serving the areas of Blair and greater Omaha, we don’t just want to help with your problems, we want to provide you with expert advice that we’ve gained from being in the business for almost 20 years. We will not only repair your system as needed, but help you learn the essential need-to-know information about your HVAC. The best part? We’ll give you a free quote, and we also have special first-time offers for new clients. Contact us today to get ahead of any future HVAC problems!
If you want to see more HVAC related myths, check out part two to see myths regarding your home temperature and HVAC energy efficiency!
