Let a Lennox^® professional help you enjoy longer system life and greater comfort.

As we all know, a heating and cooling system is a substantial investment for any homeowner to make. So how can you make sure you get the most comfort out of your system for the longest time? Ask an expert.

Brent Garret, President of Star Home Comfort in Carrolton, Texas has some good advice for homeowners looking to maximize their comfort and the longevity of their heating and cooling equipment.

Get Professional Help

First and foremost, Brent recommends getting your system inspected by a trained HVAC professional before peak heating or cooling season. Letting your dealer give your system the once-over every spring and fall can do more for longevity and performance than nearly anything else.

"Spring and fall are the best times," says Garret, "because you want a pro checking your system out before you really need it."

Garret notes that the spring inspection is especially important for customers in the southern United States, because the increased heat of summer places a particularly strenuous demand on HVAC equipment.

"A system that's not in good working order will have to work a lot harder to cool your home. That wastes a lot of energy. It also puts a lot of stress on the components, which can reduce system life."

What the Pros will do

During a professional inspection, there are several things your dealer will do.

• Check the filter status. Dirty filters make the system work harder because it's pulling air through greater resistance. Dirty filters also affect the quality of the air in your home.
• Check refrigerant charge. A system with too little refrigerant will have to run longer, wasting energy and creating extra system stress. A system with too much refrigerant won't cool very efficiently, and will also suffer damage as it runs.
• Check electrical connections. Over time, screws and connectors can come loose, which can create arcing and sparks that could damage electrical components like control boards, compressors and blower motors.
• Clean coils. The outdoor coil can gather dust and dirt, harming efficiency. The indoor coil can likewise become jammed with household dust, which increases energy use and can even cause the coil to freeze over.

Developing a relationship

Regular maintenance will not only prolong your system life, it will also help you develop an ongoing relationship with your Lennox^® dealer. This becomes important as your system nears the end of its life.

"The average system life is around 11 years," says Garret. "But 15 to 17 years is not unheard of. If you have a dealer you've been working with for a while, he or she will understand your system, and will be able to help you make an informed decision about whether or not to keep repairing components, or whether it's time to replace them." If you don't already have a regular Lennox dealer, the Lennox Dealer Locator can help you find qualified professionals in your area.

What you can do yourself

According to Garret, the most important thing a homeowner can do to preserve system life is a regular check of the filter. "Every home is different," he says, "but typically, you're looking at getting 1 to 3 months out of your filter. Any longer than that, and your system is going to have to work against the bottleneck of a clogged filter."

Garret also recommends installing a programmable thermostat to extend system life and reduce energy use. "