Keep Your Outdoor HAVC System Clear of Debris
If you own a heat pump here in Austin, TX, it probably contains an outdoor compressor unit that vents air out of the system in order to facilitate the heating or cooling process. The same holds true with a more traditional air conditioner, which likely hasn’t seen much use in the past few months, but similarly uses an outdoor compressor unit to vent warm air out of your home. In both cases, it’s very important to keep the unit clear of bushes, shrubs, and other debris. That means not only ensuring that there’s a good two feet of space between the unit and any foliage but preventing anyone from stacking items nearby or otherwise blocking the system. Always go out and clear any debris away after a storm or rainfall, and it’s probably a good idea to check for weeds and any other growth every few weeks in the winter. Why? Because they can have a detrimental effect on your system.
CONGESTION
The outside unit needs to be able to vent air in order to keep your system functioning as it should. If it can’t, then the results could cause components in your system to overheat. In some cases, safety features will shut the system down before that happens, but you’ll still need to address the problem before your system will function again. In other cases, there are no such features and your system runs the risk of destroying a key component, necessitating expensive repairs.
DETRITUS
Beyond that, nearby foliage runs the risk of dropping twigs, leaves, and other detritus directly into the system: interfering with moving parts and possibly causing a breakdown in the worst circumstances. A trained technician can fish about any debris, but by pruning back nearby plant life, you can prevent the situation from arising in the first place.