As long as your heating, ventilation and air conditioning equipment seems to be doing its job properly, operating in the background to keep you and your family comfortable all year round, you may not give much thought to what goes into keeping it running smoothly.

Often times, it's only when the HVAC equipment starts making weird sounds or when the home is not reaching the desired temperature in a timely fashion that the owner will realize how long it has been since the last service call or inspection.

The investment you made in the HVAC system will be less valuable if you don't make arrangements to have professionals come by for cleanings and regular maintenance. It's during regular service calls like these that the HVAC technician will be able to spot any emerging problems in the equipment and take care of them on the spot.

With that in mind, here are some tips to help you keep your HVAC system in top shape in between visits from your friendly HVAC service technician.

Change the Filters Regularly

Out of sight can mean out of mind when it comes to the disposable filters you use with your HVAC system.

Make note of the filter manufacturer's recommended schedule for swapping out the old filter for a new one so when it shows up on your calendar, you will remember to take care of this task. Clogged filters put excessive stress on your HVAC system and can lead to parts failure.

Remove Debris from the Outside Unit

Leaves, dirt, dust, debris kicked up from the lawn and garden and other material can accumulate atop the outside unit of your HVAC system. Regularly take a look at the unit and pull out the debris by hand, with a shop vac or by spraying it away with your garden hose.

Make Sure to Close up Leaks at Windows and Doors

It's important that your HVAC equipment works only as hard as it needs to. Overworking the system because it's inefficient puts too much of a load on your HVAC setup, which can lead to untimely component failure.

If your doors and windows aren't tightly secured, it means you are throwing away money every time you run your HVAC system. During the summer, cold air generated by the air conditioning equipment escapes outside and during the winter, the cozy heated air leaks outside. It's best to seal up cracks and leaks at doorjambs and windows so your HVAC system won't have to work harder than it needs to.

Arrange for Annual Inspections by Professionals

You're not an HVAC expert, so you should leave the heavy lifting to air conditioning and heating experts. It's prudent to have someone come out at least once a year to make sure the heating and cooling components are functioning properly.

At David Gray Heating & Air, our friendly professionals have come to see over the years that homeowners who arrange for regular inspections, cleaning and maintenance wind up paying less for repairs. The can keep their system running longer than homeowners who neglect to make appointments for service calls. Don't make the same mistake! Our team is standing by to answer any questions you may have or to set up an appointment. For more information on the services we provide, please contact the experts at David Gray Heating & Air today.