Many homeowners with an HVAC system may have heard about preventative maintenance plans for their heating and cooling equipment. But, for various reasons, they may be hesitant to go ahead and join a plan with a local HVAC company. Why? Well as humans we have a natural tendency to solve immediate problems quickly. But, we are less inclined to spend money on things that may be a better investment in the medium to long-term. Let’s face it, most people avoid regular essential maintenance because they think that the costs are prohibitive and they prefer to spend their money elsewhere. In this article, we will address these concerns and prove the value of regular HVAC maintenance.
Is a Heating and/or Cooling Maintenance Plan Worth the Cost?
The very short answer to this question is yes. But, as a local trusted HVAC company, it would be easy to accuse us of bias and this is a valid concern. To place things into perspective let’s take a look at another big ticket item that many people own; the family car. Many of us rely on a car for our daily commute, shopping trips, vacations, and other journeys that can be hard to make on public transport. A car is a complex machine and it requires regular annual maintenance to work safely and efficiently. Most drivers wouldn’t contemplate ignoring the servicing needs of their vehicle to protect the value. We present this analogy because an HVAC system is in many ways similar to the family car. After all, we rely on it every day, it’s complex, it has electrical, electronic, and mechanical parts and it loses efficiency if it’s poorly maintained. An HVAC system represents a significant investment in your home comfort and it’s a great idea to protect it.
What Happens if an HVAC System is Badly Maintained?
Looking at the ramifications of a bad servicing regime may illustrate the value of regular HVAC maintenance. When the heating and cooling system is new and installed by a professional it should be carefully matched to the space with a load calculation. This will ensure that the system performs at optimal efficiency with no extra strain on the equipment. If those needs are satisfied the HVAC system will work well for a while, but every year it will lose some energy efficiency and the performance will degrade.
When an HVAC system is not maintained regularly, it’s normal to see the energy bills rise significantly. This is exasperating because there is no accompanying gain in performance and changing the thermostat won’t make any difference. The cost of regular maintenance will usually be absorbed by the money saved on energy bills. This is not guaranteed, but when you consider the other benefits of maintenance it’s a smart choice nonetheless.
It’s worth noting that regular annual maintenance may be a requirement for your HVAC system. If you’ve purchased a system recently it will still have a valid manufacturer’s warranty. This can add significant value to the system and it can save you a lot of money in ownership costs. But, most manufacturers will only honor the warranty if the system is well maintained by a professional HVAC technician.
The lifespan of a gas furnace is around 15-20 years and an air conditioner is around 10-15 years. Regular maintenance cannot change these lifespans, but it can help to push those useful lifespan ranges to the upper end of those projections. When the heating and cooling equipment lasts longer you get more value for money at the back end. Every year that you get to use your system is money in your pocket.
How Often is HVAC Maintenance Needed?
Heating and cooling experts agree that the ideal time to get an HVAC system serviced is before the next heating or cooling season. HVAC is an acronym for Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning. There are two key functions, to warm the home in winter and to remove heat from the home in summer. Both systems need attention, the heating should be serviced before the weather turns colder and the air conditioning before it turns hotter. Waiting until the start of the season is ill advised because many homeowners experience problems when they turn their system on for the first time. So, when summer and winter start most HVAC companies are very busy and it can be hard to schedule a visit. Adopting a proactive approach and arranging the maintenance earlier is a smarter move.
What Does HVAC Maintenance Entail?
When you have a servicing plan with a local HVAC company they will remind you when it’s time to get your system checked out. You can arrange a visit at a mutually convenient time and a qualified HVAC technician will come to your home. At this time, they will carry out a number of tasks including measuring airflow, checking electrical connections, changing the air filters, checking the refrigerant levels, checking for signs of damage and/or corrosion, cleaning critical components, checking the condensate drain, lubricating moving parts and more. Completing these tasks will boost the performance and energy efficiency significantly. Many HVAC companies offer discounts on their annual maintenance plans and priority status in emergencies. As an added bonus, well maintained systems are less prone to failure and they tend to last longer too.
3 Key Advantages of Regular Preventative HVAC Maintenance
There are three advantages when you schedule regular preventative maintenance for your HVAC system. They are:
1. Improved Performance and Energy Efficiency
Neglected heating and cooling equipment is more prone to inconsistent cooling and heating problems. Key components may be dirty, clogged, or not working as intended by the manufacturer. Regular maintenance can prevent these problems to maintain performance and energy efficiency.
2. Improved Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)
Bad IAQ can trigger allergic reactions, cause asthma attacks and exacerbate pre-existing respiratory illnesses. In many homes, the level of pollution is higher than it is outdoors. Well maintained equipment is cleaner, the air circulation is more efficient and the air is fresher to breathe.
3. Hassle Free Operation and Longer Lifespans
A well maintained HVAC system is less likely to fail when you need it most, It will work as intended and you will know in advance if a component might fail. Fixing these smaller issues earlier costs less and it will protect the HVAC system. An HVAC system is more likely to work well up to the upper end of the projected lifespan if it’s serviced regularly.
If you need some essential HVAC maintenance, contact your local heating and cooling specialist today.