I am very conscientious about the upkeep of important household appliances and systems.
- I make sure to drain the water heater every year to minimize the buildup of sediment.
I schedule professional dryer vent cleaning to reduce the risk of fire, maximize the unit’s efficiency and extend its service life. Along with enrolling into a maintenance plan with a local HVAC company for the furnace and air conditioner, I make sure to change the filters every month. The air filter serves as a barrier between contaminants and the inner workings of the heating and cooling units. Once the filter becomes dirty and clogged, dust and other pollutants get inside the system, settle on components and restrict airflow. The furnace and air conditioner are required to run longer and more often. Operation consumes more energy, causes higher utility bills and increases the risk of malfunction. A furnace or air conditioner that runs with a dirty filter won’t provide as effective temperature control and won’t last as long. There’s also the risk of contaminated indoor air quality, which can be blamed for all sorts of health concerns. When the heating and cooling system was initially installed, I worried that replacing the air filters would be a difficult and time-consuming task. I’ve since realized that the job takes less than a minute. I turn two tiny levers to open the access panel. I remove the old filter, slide a new one into place and close the panel. I buy the filters at the local hardware store. They aren’t all that expensive. I make sure to keep a supply of filters on hand and have set a reminder on my phone so that I never forget.