Your home’s HVAC system is what keeps you comfortable no matter the season. In summer, your air conditioning prevents that swampy, stagnant feeling. In winter, your furnace provides a toasty haven from the frigid conditions outside. Most of the time, it works so well that you don’t think twice about it. We simply expect it to be there when we need it to make our houses comfier. Yet taking heating and cooling for granted can be a bad idea. Homeowners need to make sure that regular maintenance is a part of their annual plans, and a maintenance plan from Oncourse Home Solutions can take the worry out of the process.

Our plans cover a variety of vital appliances and features throughout your house, including maintenance for your furnace and air conditioner. Our maintenance plans can provide you with regular inspection and tune-up services performed by fully trained and licensed professional technicians. We offer coverage for one or both of these systems.

By investing in one of these plans, you can keep your system in good working order for many years, possibly preventing costly repairs and uncomfortable conditions.

Making the Most of Your Insulation

As important as regular tune-ups are, it’s also important to remember how proper insulation contributes to the health of your HVAC system. Without it, it won’t be operating at peak efficiency. That means you’ll be wasting money and increasing the risk that your equipment will break down at the worst possible time.

Ensuring your ducts are sealed and have the proper amount of insulation around them can prevent your HVAC equipment from working overtime. Here are some basic tips you can use to stop leaks and be certain your ductwork is properly protected:

• Always use the right materials. This goes beyond the material used to insulate your pipes and ducts. For example, many people don’t understand that sealing with duct tape isn’t going to provide them with the best results because it won’t last as long as they might expect. A proper seal can only be achieved with metal tape or a mastic sealant.
• Check everywhere for leaks. Any cracks or seams in your ductwork can ruin the effectiveness of your insulation. Always look over your entire house, including wherever vents and registers meet your floor or ceiling. If they’re loose, air may be escaping and costing you performance.
• Insulate. Just because you don’t use a room very often doesn’t mean you should skimp on insulating it. Even unfinished basements, attics and garages need to have their ducts protected to minimize heat loss.
• Replace your filters. One of the most important tips for maintaining your heating and air-conditioning systems is to be consistent about replacing filters according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. This will help keep everything flowing easily throughout your home.

Benefits of Proper Insulation

When your HVAC system is functioning at its best, you’ll feel better in more ways than one. Here are the top three reasons you should take care of it:

• Lower energy bills. Running your air conditioner or furnace when you have leaky ductwork means the coolness or warmth you want in your home’s living space is going elsewhere. Thus, it takes more work to bring the temperature indoors to where you want it, which means you’re wasting energy.
• More comfort. Sealing leaks means you’re more likely to be comfortable no matter what the conditions are like outside your walls.
• Better air quality. Pollution isn’t only an outdoor concern. Pet dander, mold, mildew and dust should be trapped in your filters and disposed of — but a leaky system means all of those allergens may be simply circulating your home.

Get Your HVAC System in Shape

Being proactive now can save you a lot of time, money and aggravation later. When you take the time to check for leaks, properly seal and insulate your ductwork, and purchase an HVAC service plan, you can avoid some serious problems. Look at the plans offered by Oncourse Home Solutions and make sure you’re covered.