Congrats on picking out your first home! You are no doubt pleased with your investment, even though you may also feel overloaded by all these new responsibilities. Now that you’re the owner, not the renter, it’s your job to care for all your home’s appliances and utilities, including the heating and cooling equipment.

If the only interaction you’ve ever experienced with a furnace or air conditioner is to use the thermostat, you have a lot to learn. Get started with these HVAC system suggestions for new homeowners.

Understand the Importance of Preventive Maintenance

When you rented, your landlord likely took care of HVAC maintenance tasks such as replacing the air filter. They may or may not have foot the bill for detailed heating and cooling inspections.

Now that you’re in charge, you can give preventive maintenance the attention it deserves. First, complete these do-it-yourself HVAC maintenance tasks:

• Replace the air filter every 30 to 90 days.
• Lightly hose down the outdoor unit and pare back vegetation to enhance airflow.
• Keep all air registers open to maintain proper system balance.

HVAC Tips for New Homeowners

Change the air filters

One of the simplest, most effective ways to keep your HVAC unit in top shape is to change its air filters as often as the manufacture recommends. The frequency can range between one and six months. Some thermostats will remind you about filter changes.

Don’t forget about the outdoor unit

It may be out of sight and mind, but your outdoor unit can become covered in leaves, limbs, or debris, especially after a storm. For an outdoor unit to work best, it must be clear on all sides, therefore use a soft broom to gently clean debris and anything else that may block air to it.

Check your drains

Check to make sure the drain line is draining properly. A clogged ac drain is one of the most common reasons for an ac system not to cool during the hot summer months.