Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) have been with us for a long time now. The main concept for air conditioning was first developed in 1820, when British scientist Michael Faraday discovered that compressing and liquefying ammonia gave it the ability to chill air as it evaporated. Then in 1850, the radiator (an important precursor to modern central heat) was invented by a Polish-born Russian businessman living in St. Petersburg by the name of Franz San Galli. But it wasn’t until 1902 that the first modern air conditioning system was developed. Willis Carrier created the system as a way to solve the problem of humidity affecting the inks and paper at a printing company. Unfortunately, this long history has not provided us with maintenance free heating and cooling systems. Heating and cooling repair can still be a very costly expense, so here are some tips for routine maintenance to help you avoid expensive and premature heating and cooling repairs.

One of the easiest ways to cut down on energy consumption as well as heating and cooling repairs is to set your system’s fan to automatic. Even the most basic of thermostats allow you to choose whether your fan runs continuously or only when hot or cold air is needed. Setting your system’s fan to run only when needed will also reduce electricity and reduce the need for frequent duct cleaning. Heating and cooling repair for your system’s fan can be more expensive than other repairs as it is very tedious work.

Routine maintenance of your heating and cooling units is extremely important if you want to avoid expensive emergency repairs. Many problems that arise in air conditioning systems are often due to neglect. You should have a certified technician check your air conditioning’s Freon levels, lubricate moving parts, and ensure electrical connections are not corroded. One of the most common reasons an air conditioner loses cooling capacity is because of dirty evaporator coils, and routine maintenance performed by a certified technician will be able to identify these types of problems. One thing you can do yourself to maintain your air conditioning system is change your unit’s air filters on a regular basis. Maintenance on your cooling system will be especially important for anybody living in the Asia Pacific region as that’s where 55 percent of new air conditioning units were sold in 2011.

While caring for your cooling system is important, regular maintenance of your home’s heating system is equally important. Depending on the size and age of your setup, the tasks required for routine maintenance will vary, but there are a few things you should always have done. Hire a professional to check your oil or gas connections, as improperly connected lines are a fire hazard that can also lead to health problems. You can apply rust preventing paints to the joints of lines to prevent internal components from freezing. And just like with your air conditioner, changing your heating system’s filter is also important. A clean filter will prevent your system from straining to heat your home. Read more: Boiler repair chicago