If there’s one piece of advice we believe every homeowner could benefit from, it’s this: maintain your HVAC equipment. With the appropriate routine maintenance, your HVAC system will require fewer repairs. Plus, it will work more efficiently, which should save you money on your energy bills.
Should you DIY or purchase an HVAC maintenance plan?
There’s a good reason most states insist on HVAC contractors carrying a professional license. This kind of specialty work demands dedicated tools and training, making it rather difficult to do yourself. There are, of course, certain things you can do yourself in between maintenance visits, if you are so inclined to, especially changing your air filters on a regular basis.
Let’s face it, as a homeowner, you have numerous responsibilities to maintain your investment and one critical piece of that investment is your home’s heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system. Unfortunately, all too often, homeowners overlook the routine HVAC maintenance essential to help assure optimal operating and longevity.
That’s why enrolling in an HVAC maintenance program can be a game-changer for the longevity and efficiency of your system.
Keep in mind that service is not just for HVAC equipment that’s 10 years old or older. Even a one-year-old system can benefit from regular maintenance. As a matter of fact, as we’ll point out below, some warranties are void if you don’t schedule service every six months. That’s one more reason why a maintenance program is important for many homeowners. It helps ensure you never skip a maintenance visit.
How do HVAC maintenance plans work?
Customers will normally be offered an HVAC maintenance plan upon the installation of a new heating and/or cooling system. For an additional fee, the contractor will offer maintenance, inspection, cleaning and other services for your HVAC system for a specified period, typically one year.
The notion is that after you’ve paid the upfront fee, you won’t pay for the specified HVAC services under your contract, and you’ll be apt to save money, too.
Is it necessary to get annual HVAC maintenance on your system?
Yes indeed! In fact, for the top performance, you should get it checked every six months. The most suitable times are spring and fall, just prior to the hot and cold seasons.
What are the chief benefits of HVAC maintenance plans?
Routine maintenance reduces energy bills
Cleaning is a huge part of regular maintenance and there’s a pretty good reason for it. HVAC systems pull air through condensers, blowers and vents to cool and heat your home. Naturally, this airflow also carries a lot of dust and debris along with it. Your air filter catches plenty of that dust, but certainly not all of it.
By having an AC&R tech clean out the dust, your HVAC system won’t have to work as hard. This means it requires less energy, so your energy bills will be lower. Leave it dirty over time and your energy costs will keep going up.
For homeowners who are environmentally aware, routine HVAC maintenance will not only help keep your unit operating as efficiently as possible but also reduce your carbon footprint.
Routine maintenance extends your unit’s life
Unmaintained HVAC systems must work harder to do their job and that does more than simply boost energy bills. It also lessens their lifespans.
Okay, according to Consumer Reports, most central air conditioning units last from 10 to 15 years. With routine maintenance, however, you can extend the life of your system. It can give your system years or even a decade of more of life before you need to replace it. It’s absolutely worth the bit of investment to get your unit cleaned and inspected by our professionals on a routine basis compared to the costs of replacing your unit when something goes awry.
Catch HVAC problems before they get big
HVAC maintenance also offers the prospect of identifying and planning for repair needs early. Your technician will be able to detect those early clues of needed service before they grow into extensive repair projects or entire system replacements. This is just one more way HVAC maintenance helps save money in the long run – by taking the time to point out the problem now, you won’t have to pay for more expensive repairs down the road. And because you were able to identify the problem early on, you’ll be able to financially arrange for the repair as opposed to encountering an unexpected cost.
Some of the heating and cooling problems your HVAC maintenance program works to prevent include:
- Ignition system problems caused by dirty burners
- Thermostat malfunctions
- Blown internal fuses
- Tripped breakers
- Poor heat exchange
- Short cycling
- Overheating
- Damaged heat exchanger
- Water leaks
Yes, you can grab hold of these issues before they get huge and costly by simply hiring a technician to perform routine maintenance on your HVAC system. Of course, if you’re a risk-taker, you can skip regular maintenance. You’ll just pay considerably more when the system breaks down one day . . .and it will!
Maintains manufacturer’s warranty
Many homeowners don’t realize that their ability to use their AV unit’s manufacturer’s warranty, for example, depends on routine system maintenance. A considerable number of HVAC system manufacturers require their owners to adhere to a regular maintenance schedule to be eligible for warranty coverage. While it’s normally a rule of thumb that HVAC systems require annual maintenance, certain manufacturers may require even more frequent service. You need to refer to your owner’s manual to learn what the required maintenance schedule is for your system.
Turn to AC&R Services for your maintenance needs
AC&R Services, a trusted HVAC maintenance company, will help you experience worry-free comfort season after season, by having your heating and cooling systems running at the utmost efficiency. It’s our goal to make sure your HVAC system delivers the perfect temperature inside, no matter what the weather is outside. With a Maintenance Agreement, our certified technicians will identify any issues or system failures, perform preventive HVAC maintenance, and make sure your equipment is functioning according to specifications recommended by the manufacturer.
We want you to feel stress-free on either the hottest or coldest day of the year knowing your comfort system has obtained only the best professional, precision care.
How can we change your ambience today?