The fallen leaves on your yard can create a colorful ambiance and decorate the landscape. However, they can wreak havoc on your HVAC system if they infiltrate it. Here are some ways fallen leaves can affect your home comfort system:
How Leaves Can Damage Your HVAC System
Your outdoor air conditioning unit contains the compressor that’s used to generate cool air for your home in the summer months. Occasionally, the unit can suck in leaves along with fresh air. As leaves and other debris accumulate inside, your overall system’s efficiency and functionality will reduce significantly. This will increase your utility bills.
If you have a higher efficiency furnace of 90 percent or greater, it will have intake and outtake PVC pipes. These pipes are usually located on the side of your house and very low to the ground, making them vulnerable to clogging by fallen leaves. Clogged pipes downgrade your system’s performance and efficiency.
How to Prevent Falling Leaves From Damaging Your HVAC System
Here are some of the maintenance tasks you can perform to protect your system from damage:
- Check your heating system’s PVC pipes regularly during the fall. Clean them if they’re full of leaves. Rake any leaves you find around the pipes and pile them away.
- Turn off the power to your outdoor A/C unit and remove the side panel. Sweep out all the leaves and debris from its interior. Use a fin cleaning spray or water hose to clean the unit’s fins. Get rid of any leaves and debris that are within two feet of the unit’s base.
- Place an A/C cover over the outdoor unit to prevent leaves and debris from collecting in it in the off-season.
- Add a wraparound filter to the air conditioner. This cover will prevent leaves from falling into the interior and reduce the buildup of dirt, dust, and allergens.
Taking the time to keep fallen leaves away from your HVAC system will help prevent repairs later. For more information on how to take care of your HVAC system, contact Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning. We proudly serve the Lorain area.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Lorain, Ohio about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about fall maintenance and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Guide or call us at 440-201-2959.
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Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning
1 (440) 246-5440
Serving the Lorain, OH Area