Let’s face it, most people want to save money, and they’re not inclined to invest in something that they take for granted. We rely on our HVAC systems to keep our indoor temperatures at a comfortable level all year round. We expect them to work without any professional attention, and when they fail, it’s always a surprise for some reason. This is flawed thinking; after all, you wouldn’t ignore your car servicing and maintenance. HVAC systems represent a significant investment in your home, and it makes sense to take care of it. One of the best ways to protect your system is to join a professional HVAC servicing and maintenance program. Let’s take a closer look at the advantages to help you make a more informed decision.
HVAC Warranty Issues
If you’ve purchased and installed a new HVAC system in your home during the last few years, it’s likely to run for a long time if you take care of it. Many modern HVAC systems are supplied with a manufacturer’s warranty that covers some of the initial years of ownership. In fact, ignoring servicing and maintenance during this time may even void the warranty, which has considerable value to you if something does go wrong. But, you may have been offered a warranty from the HVAC contractor that installed your system. Many people wonder about the value of these aftermarket programs and how they work in practice. If you want to keep your system running efficiently and perhaps even extend the expected useful lifespan of the equipment for a few years, they make good sense.
The Costs of HVAC Maintenance
First, it’s important to note that a comprehensive HVAC servicing and maintenance program is likely to cost a few hundred dollars per year. This may seem like a waste of money; after all, if the system breaks, it can be easily repaired. But, this is a flawed approach because the costs of maintenance are typically lower than the costs of repairs. In the medium to long term, you will save more money if your heating and cooling equipment is regularly maintained.
5 Ways to Save Money with Regular HVAC Service Programs
Let’s take a look at the five main ways that you will save money when you enroll in a service and maintenance program for your HVAC system:
- Early Problem Detection
When you schedule regular servicing for your heating and cooling equipment, every system will be visually inspected and checked. A local HVAC professional will be able to identify any potential problem before they become more extensive. This may seem trivial, but repairing a smaller issue will be less expensive than replacing components. Over the lifespan of your HVAC system, you may be able to avoid extensive repair bills by adopting a proactive approach to problem solving. This is also a great way to avoid downtime when your system is out of action during an extensive repair.
- Lowering Your Utility Bills
Studies have shown that heating and cooling equipment accounts for a large proportion of many home utility bills. So, it makes good sense to keep those costs under control and even reduce them with smarter choices. One of the most overlooked aspects of HVAC system maintenance is the benefits to energy efficiency. When your heating and cooling equipment is running smoothly, and efficiently your bills will be lower. In fact, you may even recoup the service and maintenance costs through energy savings alone.
- Minimizing Downtime
When your HVAC system fails, it tends to occur at the worst possible times. The last thing you need during a heatwave is an air conditioner that simply stops working. But, this makes sense. When the equipment is working hardest, there is an increased chance that it will fail. This risk can be mitigated with regular HVAC servicing. There are no guarantees, but well serviced equipment is always less prone to failure than a poorly maintained system. When you have an HVAC system failure, it can affect your home in many ways, and this can translate into missed work days and other hidden costs.
- Extended Equipment Lifespan
We touched on this point briefly earlier in this article, but it bears repeating here. The average lifespan of a modern furnace is in the 15-30 years range. Most people tend to look at replacement options when the furnace is around 15 years old. The average expected lifespan of an air conditioner is in the 15-20 years range, and again most people consider a replacement at 15 years. Even a high efficiency HVAC system will lose a certain level of efficiency each and every year. This is offset with regular servicing and maintenance, but the useful lifespan is also extended. If you can delay a purchase of a new furnace or air conditioner system for a few more years, it can save you a lot of money. If you’ve ignored servicing and maintenance for a few years, don’t despair; most professional HVAC contractors offer a more extensive checkup to restore some lost efficiency.
- Overall Cost Savings and Priority Service
As we mentioned earlier, heating and cooling equipment works hard, and it tends to fail when it’s working hardest. For this reason, you don’t want to wait for a repair because your indoor comfort will be compromised. When you’re enrolled in an HVAC service and maintenance program with a local contractor, you will get preference. Remember, other homes that may have heating and cooling systems that receive no maintenance may have failures at the same time as you. A local HVAC company will always prioritize their program customers over people with a problem. This is also true when it comes to costs; many membership programs come with other perks such as discounts on parts, complimentary tune-ups, part warranties, and more. These extras can add a lot to the value of the servicing program over the years of membership.
If you want to learn more about a regular service and maintenance program, contact your local HVAC specialist today.