5 Important Reasons to Have Your HVAC Regularly Maintained

When the thermometer rises high or drops down low, you depend on your HVAC system to keep you comfortable. Regular maintenance may seem unnecessary or too expensive, but it will keep your system running in tip-top shape all season long.

1- Prepare for the Season

No one wants to turn on their air conditioner on the first hot day of the year and discover that it’s blowing only room-temperature air. It’s such a frustrating letdown when that happens.

To avoid this scenario, schedule an appointment to have your HVAC system checked out once in the spring and once in the fall. The technician who comes to your home will run the system to ensure that it is functioning properly and perform repairs if not. He or she will also perform routine maintenance tasks.

According to Total System Services, make these seasonal appointments several weeks in advance of when you expect to need your system. Once hot or cold weather hit, technicians get quite busy, so it’s best to have them out before their schedules get too full.

2- Lower Your Energy Costs

One of the routine tasks that a service professional can perform on your HVAC system involves cleaning it thoroughly. Air conditioners, in particular, require a good annual cleaning. Dirt and debris must be removed from the condenser coils and evaporator coils. Plus, the fins on these coils must be bent back into place. Clogs must also be cleared out of the unit’s drain channels.

Not only does cleaning the system help it run better and more safely, but it can also lower your energy bills. A dirty system does not run as efficiently as a clean one. Paying a technician to service your HVAC equipment can, therefore, save you money in the long run.

3- Tighten and Lubricate Components

A maintenance call is an opportunity for an HVAC professional do all of the little jobs that keep your system in working order. The list of tasks that will be completed varies based on the season and the company you hire, but they often include:

• Tightening connections.
• Inspecting belts.
• Oiling parts.
• Testing the flow of air.
• Changing filters.
• Testing current and voltage.
• Adjusting refrigerant levels.

4- Catch Problems Early

Small problems that go unnoticed eventually become big problems. Large problems are expensive to repair. Sometimes they are very, very expensive. Little problems left unchecked can even shorten the life of your equipment.

As a matter of fact, if you do not get an annual tune-up of your HVAC system, you may void your warranty. Most manufacturers’ warranty policies stipulate that proper care and maintenance of the system is a requirement for repair or replacement claims.

Besides, it’s better to find out that your wiring is faulty during a routine pre-season check than to discover the problem when your furnace goes out at 9:00 p.m. on the coldest weekend of the year.

5- Stay Safe

You rely on your HVAC system for comfortable living, but if not properly maintained, this modern convenience can become a hazard. A technician who maintains your HVAC system will inspect your furnace for faulty connections. He or she will look for cracks, blockages or leaks. Parts that are not in good shape can be a fire hazard.

Not only are gas leaks a fire hazard, but they can also allow carbon monoxide gas to seep into your home. Carbon monoxide can be deadly. Although you should have carbon monoxide detectors installed in your home to alert you to unsafe levels of this dangerous gas, it is better to stop a problem before it starts by having the integrity of your HVAC system regularly evaluated by a professional.

The technician may also look to make sure that you are not storing any flammable material near your furnace or cluttering the area too much. Your furnace needs open space in which to operate. Blocked airflow is hazardous because an obstructed HVAC system may have an inadequate supply of clean air from which to draw.

Routine maintenance keeps your HVAC system in good working order so that you’ll stay safe and comfortable in your home all year long.