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The Top 4 Costly Mistakes Homeowners Make All the Time (Part 2)

In our previous blog, we discussed two of the most common mistakes property owners make when it comes to their HVAC systems: failing to check and change their air filters regularly and placing their thermostats in the wrong place. 

This is part two of the series, in which we’ll let you in on a couple of other critical mistakes you should avoid to keep your unit healthy for as long as possible. 

All-Too Common HVAC Mistakes You’re Probably Making Right Now 

Here are the other two mistakes we see all the time:

3. Your Unit Is the Wrong Size or in the Wrong Place 

Proper placement is crucial not just for thermostats. Installing the condenser in an appropriate area can cause undue strain on your HVAC system and prevent it from running smoothly.

As a general rule, the more sunlight and heat it’s subjected to, the harder it will have to work. So, when installing your condenser, be sure to pick a spot with plenty of shade and proper ventilation and airflow.

Size matters

Next, let’s consider the issue of size. 

Many of our clients think that bigger units are more efficient, but that’s not necessarily the case. If the system is too large for your home, it will cool it way too quickly. While this may not sound like a bad thing, it’s really bad for your unit. The more often it has to turn on and off, the more wear and tear it will get. Eventually, you may find yourself having to replace it much sooner than expected.

Going too small has the opposite effect. A small air conditioner in a big property will have to work extra hard to keep your home cool. If you notice that your house is only slightly cooler than the outside or certain areas of your home are cool, but others aren’t, this may be an indication that your unit is struggling to keep up.

Whether your unit is too big or too small, the end result is always the same: extra wear and tear, frequent breakdowns, and costly repairs.

4. You Don’t Protect Your Unit from Your Pets

If you own pets, you may need to take extra precautions to keep your HVAC system in good health. 

Pet hair can clog the air filter and cause major damage to your unit, so you should be replacing the filter more often than usual:

• One dog or cat: every 60 days
• More than one pet or if anyone has allergies: every 20–45 days

You should also be careful when letting your pets out into the yard to do their business. If your dog marks his or her territory on your AC unit, the urine may corrode the condenser and damage the outer fins and coils. The repairs can easily cost you hundreds — or even thousands — of dollars. 

The good news is that this problem has an easy solution. You can keep your dog away from the HVAC by installing a fence around it. Just make sure the fence doesn’t block airflow to the unit. 

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