A HVAC system is crucial for your home comfort and enjoying high quality indoor air. At times in the year, your air conditioner and furnace are working around the clock to heat, cool and filter the air and regulate the humidity inside your home. It can be very easy to take your HVAC system for granted, but if your AC fails on a hot summer day or your furnace breaks down in the middle of winter, you’ll be aware of how essential your system is.

No one wants to deal with arranging repairs during these inhospitable times, but you are also likely to want to avoid dealing with inconsistent home comfort and increasing energy bills. This is where preventative maintenance can help. Just like getting an oil change for your vehicle, it is important to ensure your HVAC system is consistently tuned up to keep it operating properly. But, do you need a maintenance contract? Here we’ll cover the top reasons why a maintenance contract may be worth your consideration.

The HVAC Maintenance Contract Basics:

Although many people are wary of contracts, a maintenance contract is simply an agreement between you and your HVAC contractor. This type of agreement is designed to offer routine maintenance, repair work savings and other benefits. Although you don’t need a maintenance contract to arrange servicing for your HVAC system, there are a number of reasons why you might want one.

Automated Reminders for Maintenance:

Managing a home around all of your other obligations and commitments can sometimes be tricky. So, it is easy to forget about the need to schedule your next HVAC maintenance appointment. Fortunately, if you have a maintenance contract, your HVAC contractor will send you a friendly reminder to set an appointment on your calendar.

There are a number of benefits to sticking to a regular maintenance schedule. These include:

  • Small issues can be found early: Problems with HVAC systems rarely occur overnight and they tend to develop over time. When your system is professionally checked every year, the technician is more likely to be able to identify any small issues before they can develop into serious problems.
  • Reduce the risk of breakdowns: When your technician has the opportunity to tighten a loose belt, even out a misaligned blower motor or correct any number of small issues, there is a decreased risk of an unexpected breakdown.
  • Repair cost savings: With routine maintenance, you’re more likely to be paying bills to repair smaller issues rather than more costly, major repairs. Additionally, some contractors offer preferential repair rates for their maintenance contract customers.
  • Improved energy efficiency: According to the Department of Energy, once a year HVAC maintenance can improve efficiency by as much as 30%. This can have a significant impact, lowering your heating and cooling bills.
  • Improved home comfort: When your HVAC system is functioning as it is designed to, there are more consistent temperatures and greater balance in the humidity inside every room.
  • Extended equipment lifespan: When your HVAC system is properly tuned up, lubricated and cleaned, it can have a far longer lifespan compared to equipment that is neglected. This means that you could be adding years to the lifespan of your equipment, saving you the hassle and cost of premature replacement.
  • Enhanced safety: One of the objectives of HVAC servicing and maintenance is to ensure that your system is operating safely. Since damaged equipment increases the chance of a carbon monoxide leak, a maintenance contract can provide you with peace of mind.
  • Protect your warranty protections: Most HVAC manufacturers make it a condition of their warranties that the equipment is professional serviced at least once per year. Investing in maintenance can keep your warranty active and protect your warranty protections.

Enjoy a Priority Service:

When you have a maintenance contract, you’ll be at the front of the line if you need to request an emergency repair. There is never a good time to deal with a breakdown or repair issue, but when you then have to wait for days or even weeks for a technician to visit, it can be incredibly frustrating and inconvenient.

Depending on your specific company, as a maintenance contract customer, you may be able to enjoy same day service regardless of whether you call at night, on weekends or even on holidays. You’ll need to check, but often you’ll have guaranteed priority service.

Benefit From Priority Installation:

If you’re thinking about replacing any components in your HVAC system, you may also benefit from priority installation. Your maintenance plan is likely to give you access to the fastest available installs, even if you want attention during the busiest times of the year.

Discounts on Repairs and Servicing:

Regular maintenance can lower the needs for repair services, but if you do have any repair issues, having a maintenance contract means that you’ll be able to benefit from discounts on repairs and services. Your company may also offer a discount on indoor air quality products such as replacement filters, whole house humidifiers and air cleaner media.

No Trip Charges:

When repairs are necessary occasionally, the cost can get expensive pretty quickly, particularly when you need to pay trip charges or overtime fees. Fortunately, as a maintenance contract customer, you are unlikely to have to pay these charges even if you need an after hours or emergency appointment.

Repair Guarantees:

Finally, most maintenance contract companies offer a guarantee on any repair. This provides you with peace of mind as you’ll have a guarantee of 100% satisfaction on any repairs or installations. Of course, you’ll need to check how long the guarantee is valid, but it is typically for a period of one year. This gives you plenty of time to use your system and ensure that you’re completely happy.

If you are interested in learning more about the benefits of maintenance contracts or need assistance with any HVAC issue, be sure to speak to your local HVAC specialist. An experienced technician can evaluate your system to check it is functioning at optimum efficiency, performance and safety, but they can also guide you through the terms of the available maintenance contracts.