Can’t recall the last time you had your HVAC system serviced? Mark your calendars and keep reading to see why neglecting this item of routine maintenance is a bad idea.
If it’s out of sight, it’s out of mind: If your heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning system has been performing well recently, you may not have considered arranging a professional checkup. Fortunately for you, we’re approaching one of the two best periods of the year to do so! HVAC checkups should be scheduled before heavy use seasons, such as in the fall before turning on the furnace to heat your home and in the spring before turning on the air conditioner to cool it. However, failing to have your HVAC serviced at least once a year could jeopardize the system as well as your family’s comfort and health. In fact, experts recommend performing preventative maintenance inspections in the fall and spring.
1. You Can Help Prevent Breakdowns—and Expensive Repairs
The dead of winter is the worst time to uncover a problem with your furnace. Not only will you be inconvenienced, but repairs are nearly usually more expensive than preventive measures. Worse, in the event of a breakdown, you may be without heated or cooled air until a professional can get replacement parts to repair the broken device. Potential problems are found and repaired during a professional checkup before they can progress to greater problems that could cause a component failure.
“With newer model HVAC systems, our experts can use plug-in diagnostics, which are comparable to the diagnostics used by auto mechanics to discover faults with newer cars,” Kenyon explains. “It’s an excellent technique to guarantee that every component of the system is working properly.”
2. You’ll Aid in the Protection of Your Warranty
Those exorbitant replacement part and repair service fees? So, if you’re hoping that the manufacturer’s warranty will cover the cost of an untimely tragedy, don’t skip your unit’s yearly checkup.
“Manufacturer warranties must be maintained on a regular basis by a specialist,” Kenyon explains. “If the homeowners do not strictly adhere to the terms of their guarantee, the manufacturer may void it.”
Examine your warranty, abide by its terms, and retain records of each time you have the system serviced.
3. You Could Extend the Life of Your HVAC System Life
Checkups include more than just tests to ensure that all HVAC components are operating properly. Professional cleaning and maintenance of the units is, in reality, an important aspect of a checkup. “Removing blockages, replacing filters, cleaning evaporator coils, and lubricating moving parts will all help your HVAC system last longer,” Kenyon explains. Regularly serviced units run smoother and last longer, making an annual maintenance essential if you want to enjoy years of uninterrupted service.
4. You Will Safeguard Your Family
“Whenever you combine fuel and electricity, you have a safety concern,” Kenyon explains. That’s why, during every tune-up, a specialist looks for anything that could cause a fire: leaks in oil or gas lines, loose connections in electrical lines, and electrical wiring faults that could cause short circuits. In addition, the expert will check for the presence of dangerous carbon monoxide gas, which might escape through a breach in the heat exchanger of the furnace. A single inspection helps to guarantee that families can breathe easily—and that the air they breathe is safe and clean.
5. You Might Be Able to Improve Energy Efficiency
“You simply aren’t getting the most out of your furnace or air conditioner without a regular inspection and servicing,” Kenyon explains. A clean HVAC system can operate at optimal capacity, whereas a neglected system must work overtime, consuming more energy and costing more money, to keep your home pleasant. A technician will clean and service the components to restore your system’s effectiveness, whether it’s due to a blocked vent system, dirty evaporator or condenser coils, wrong gas pressure, or a soiled burner.
Furthermore, a checkup provides the option for an on-the-spot energy-efficient improvement. Licensed technicians often carry a choice of thermostats with them and, if requested, can install a new one during the service appointment. For example, installing a programmable thermostat lets you to program heating and cooling cycles to prevent running the system when it isn’t needed. If you choose a smart thermostat, it will eliminate the guessing by learning and responding on your habits and preferences.
6. You’ll Stay at Your Most Relaxed
Your HVAC system may have used to keep all of the rooms in your home at a suitable temperature, but it now leaves some rooms cooler or warmer than others. What you’re experiencing could be the result of a clogged or leaking vent system, rather than simply an indication of an aged system. A dirty or blocked vent system has a more difficult time circulating heated or cooled air to every room in your house, resulting in dramatic temperature changes from room to room. “The visiting specialist can identify and repair blockages and leaks, resulting in more balanced airflow throughout your home,” Kenyon explains.
7. You Can Aid in the Prevention of Damage to Other Home Components
That’s correct: A fully operating HVAC system might mean fewer maintenance for your system while also protecting other home components. During an annual service, for example, a technician will look for problems with an AC unit’s drain line and condensate pump. “A faulty pump or clogged drain line can cause leaks and, eventually, water damage to the ceiling of the room below,” Kenyon adds. The wet atmosphere of a drain line can promote algae growth, clogging the line and causing the drain pan to overflow, however regular inspections can clear drain lines before leaks occur.