Spending money probably isn’t your favorite thing to do, but what if spending a little could save you a lot? With preventative HVAC maintenance, you can hire a professional to check over your system, tune your furnace and air conditioner, and make sure everything is ready to go and actually save a ton of money in the long run. Once you learn how preventative maintenance works and the benefits it provides, you’ll be more than happy to pay a few bucks to save a bundle.
What Is Preventative Maintenance?
During the preventative maintenance appointment, your technician will take a deep dive into your heating and cooling system, looking for signs of damage, excessive wear and tear, and unsafe operating conditions. The technician will make adjustments and tune your system to ensure it’s ready for the season ahead.
Your technician will begin with a visual inspection of your furnace and air conditioner. During this part of maintenance, the technician looks for damaged parts that could cause your machine to fail and may recommend repairs before you enter the hot and cold season. The technician will wipe away dust and debris from inside your furnace and clean the coils inside your air conditioner.
Wiring and utility connections are assessed and inspected for safety. The technician will ensure all connections are secure and that wiring is not frayed, damaged, or exposed to create an unsafe situation. Gas connections are inspected as well, ensuring they are secure so that you do not experience a gas leak. Proper and sturdy electrical and gas connections are crucial to avoid injury, serious health hazards, and property damage.
Air conditioners have a drain tube that takes water from moisture away from the unit. Your technician will clear the condensate drain and ensure that water can travel freely to a safe place away from the AC. They will also check the refrigerant level in your AC to ensure you have enough to cool your home for the summer. If the refrigerant is low, the technician can add more. If the refrigerant is completely empty, your technician may check for signs of a leak.
Additionally, certain parts of your system move during operation and require lubrication to protect them from friction. The technician will also inspect electrical connections, gas connections, and wiring within the system, looking for signs of fraying, looseness, or other problems that could pose a safety risk or cause your system to fail.
Finally, your technician will turn on your furnace and air conditioner after cleaning and tuning the units. The technician checks for proper airflow from the vents, ensuring your system is forcing air through the ductwork as it should. They will assess for sufficient and even heating and cooling throughout your home. The technician will also listen for unusual noises that could indicate a problem with your system and check for foul odors that could be caused by a faulty machine. Your thermostat may require calibration. The technician checks this by manually testing the temperature of the room and comparing it to the thermostat.
At the completion of your maintenance visit, your furnace and air conditioner should be in prime condition to give you optimal heating and cooling throughout the next season.
How Often Do You Need Maintenance?
Expert HVAC technicians agree that maintenance is essential every year to get you through the season. It is best to schedule preventative maintenance before the winter for your furnace and before summer for your air conditioner to ensure your units are ready for the upcoming temperatures. Without regular maintenance, you may face problems with your system that maintenance alone can no longer help with.
Benefits of Annual Maintenance
Annual maintenance provides benefits such as greater reliability and enhanced safety and is a service designed to save you money. With maintenance, you have better chances of comfort and convenience inside your home.
Reduce the Risk of Breakdowns
When your technician inspects your HVAC system, they are looking for signs of damaged and worn parts that could lead to a failure in the future. These components are often replaced, adjusted, or otherwise taken care of to help reduce the risk of an unexpected failure in the middle of the season. Preventative maintenance is the best way to lower your chances of calling for emergency repairs in the middle of summer or winter.
Enjoy Greater Efficiency
Keeping your heating and cooling system in optimal condition leads to greater energy efficiency. Your furnace and air conditioner require less energy when tuned and maintained regularly as they are not working as hard due to dust buildup, worn-out parts, and other problems that cause your system to struggle.
Extend the Life of Your Furnace
Your furnace and air conditioner may give you many years of reliable, functional, and safe heating and cooling. Over the course of a lifetime, you could need to purchase several new units, but you can reduce the number with regular maintenance. Because routine maintenance and tune-ups help lower the stress on your machines, they may last a few years longer when taken care of properly. This could mean saving the price of an entire unit over several decades.
Breathe Easier
A clean system provides better indoor air quality for your home. When the technician removes dust and dirt from your machines, these contaminants will not circulate through your system. You’ll have cleaner air in your home and be able to breathe easier while you enjoy comfortable heating and cooling.
Save Your Hard-Earned Money
All of the benefits of routine maintenance help save you money. With fewer breakdowns, you’ll save money on emergency repair service and may eliminate the need for off-peak service calls. Greater energy efficiency helps keep your utility bills lower. Getting more life from your furnace and air conditioner could save you hundreds to thousands in replacement costs throughout your entire life. Even better indoor air quality can save you money. If your machine effectively pumps out clean air, you may not need indoor air quality equipment such as air purifiers and humidifiers.
When you hire our expert technicians for your heating and cooling needs, you’re getting the best professionals in West Boylston and throughout central Massachusetts. Our technicians are extensively trained to learn all the skills needed to handle your installation, repair, and maintenance services. We work with furnaces, air conditioners, boilers, heat pumps, and ductless mini-split systems to give you numerous options for home comfort. In addition, we perform in-depth duct and vent cleaning, ductwork services, and indoor air quality service and equipment. We also have a team of top-notch plumbers to tackle your sewer, household plumbing, and water heater needs. Count on us as your premier home services company, and we’ll give you the best quality you can find.
Schedule your HVAC maintenance and tune-ups with top experts by calling the pros at DeWolfe Plumbing, Heating & Cooling today.