When is the last time you had your HVAC system serviced? If you answered never or the last time it broke, you might want to consider a preventative maintenance plan. The reasons are simple. Preventative maintenance stops most HVAC problems before they cost you exorbitant amounts of money in the form of higher energy bills, frequent breakdowns and the need to replace your heating and cooling equipment sooner than expected.
Understanding Preventative Maintenance
Preventative maintenance is maintenance that is performed on a regular schedule, regardless of how well the system is functioning. Preventative maintenance typically includes annual inspections and cleanings of the unit. These inspections are designed to catch worn parts, leaks, corrosion and other types of damage before it results in your heating and cooling equipment breaking down.
Maintenance that is performed when your HVAC system malfunctions are called reactive maintenance, which is not recommended by HVAC contractors because it can decrease the expected useful life of your HVAC equipment and leave you without warm or cool air, depending on the season. Not to mention, repair bills for reactive maintenance are often much higher than those for preventative maintenance.
Reasons to Choose Preventative HVAC Maintenance
If you want to maximize the useful life of your heating and cooling equipment, prevent high repair bills, maintain your energy-efficiency and keep your home’s interior comfortable for you and your family, we recommend choosing a comprehensive preventative maintenance plan that you can count on to find minor problems before they become major problems.
Maintain Energy Efficiency
When your HVAC system was designed, it was given an energy-efficiency rating. For air conditioners, this rating is indicated by the SEER number, and the higher the SEER, the more energy-efficient the unit. Furnaces are given a rating designated by AFUE, and it is typically designated by a percentage, like 80 or 90 percent. If your furnace is 90 percent efficient, it means that only 10 percent of the fuel is wasted and not converted into heat.
In order to maintain your unit’s energy-efficiency rating and avoid higher than normal winter heating bills and summer cooling bills, it is recommended that you have certain components checked and replaced at regular intervals. The most frequently replaced component on your HVAC system is the air filter, but occasionally, you may also need to replace your thermostat, certain belts, fans and motors, and for your air conditioner, you’ll need to have the coolant levels checked and filled and the copper coils checked for leaks and corrosion.
Fewer Breakdowns and Repair Bills
HVAC systems work as cohesive units. This means that when one part starts to show excessive wear, it can affect other parts of the system. For example, if you fail to replace your air filter at regular intervals, it can become clogged, reducing the amount of air flowing through your system. To compensate, the system will work harder and longer in order to reach your thermostat setting. If this is occurring, you’ll notice that your system stays on longer and that there is reduced airflow through the registers. Your unit may even fail to reach your desired thermostat setting. HVAC companies like Allred HVAC Auburn recommend replacing your HVAC filters every 3 to 6 months.
Improved Indoor Air Quality
If you have indoor allergies, failing to maintain your HVAC system could result in increased sinus pressure and congestion, especially if you smoke or have pets. For individuals with lung illnesses, like asthma and COPD, they could experience worsened and more frequent symptoms. This is because tobacco smoke and pet dander are sucked into your unit, and without regular cleaning of the unit and changing of the air filter, the dust, dirt, pollen and other bits of particulate matter can get sucked through the filter and pumped back into your home’s indoor air. Not to mention, your air ducts will become filthy. Preventative maintenance helps keep your indoor air clean by ensuring that the unit is cleaned and your air filter is replaced at regular intervals.
Less Frequent HVAC Replacements
Most HVAC systems are designed to last between 20 and 25 years. If you fail to perform preventative maintenance, you could start experiencing frequent repairs in as little as one to two years. This includes having to replace air conditioner coils, fans, blower motors, heat exchangers and even the entire outdoor unit of your air conditioner. Not to mention, your HVAC system may only last 10 to 15 years instead of its full expected useful lifespan of 25 years.
You May Void Your HVAC System’s Warranty
New heating and cooling systems typically come with warranties that require a certain amount of preventative maintenance in order to maintain the validity of the warranty. Failing to get yearly maintenance can render your warranty void, meaning that if a defect is found, you’ll have to pay for it out of your own finances.
To learn more about our HVAC preventative maintenance plans and to choose the right one for your heating and cooling equipment, give us a call today.