What Is HVAC Maintenance And Why Is It Essential?
Considering that the levels of humidity and heat in Florida can be unbearable at times, spending even a day without your AC can be close to impossible.
There’s good news, though. With proper upkeep, you can practically eliminate the chances of any air conditioning issues occurring and significantly extend the lifespan of your HVAC system.
Still, many homeowners ignore scheduling professional maintenance checks because they want to save a few bucks, not realizing that having an expert inspect and maintain their AC can save them money in the long run.
Here’s everything you need to know about HVAC maintenance.
What is HVAC Maintenance?
HVAC maintenance is a service conducted by a certified HVAC technician that includes a full inspection of the system, cleaning, lubricating, and fine-tuning moving components.
Most HVAC companies provide maintenance plans that offer two visits per year. These bi-annual visits ensure optimal performance of the HVAC system both in summer and winter, as well as eliminate the possibility of breakdowns when temperatures reach extremes on either side of the spectrum.
HVAC maintenance may include:
- Lubricating mechanical parts
- Testing the functionality of various components
- Identifying any issues
- Testing the amperage of the exterior unit
- Checking electrical connections
- Inspecting the thermostat
Most technicians will also clean off dust accumulated in the interior of the HVAC system.
Benefits of HVAC Maintenance
Even though you’re now familiar with what is HVAC maintenance, you may still not see the value in obtaining a maintenance plan. To change your mind, here are the benefits you can expect from a professional service:
1. Reduction in Your Overall Energy Consumption
A poorly maintained system will struggle to push enough air and maintain a consistent cooling performance. In other words, it will use more energy to provide the same level of comfort as an efficient HVAC system.
During preventative maintenance, technicians will test all the components and thoroughly clean both the exterior and interior units. As such, your system will work at the highest efficiency, which directly translates to reduced energy consumption.
2. Preventing Repairs
One of the biggest advantages of scheduling preventative maintenance is detecting and fixing small issues before they lead to a complete breakdown.
Due to their training and experience with HVAC equipment, technicians can spot problem areas long before they show any symptoms. You’ll avoid paying ridiculous amounts of money to resolve issues that often come about in the middle of the summer (when HVAC services are the most expensive).
3. Fulfilling Warranty Requirements
The components of your HVAC system are likely under warranty. Yet, most major manufacturers will only pay a claim if you provide evidence of maintenance performed regularly by a certified technician.
With a maintenance service plan, you’ll have no trouble recovering money in case a certain part under warranty malfunctions, because you’ll have tangible proof that you did everything in your power to prevent malfunctions from happening.
4. Improving indoor air quality
One of the secondary tasks of your air conditioning equipment is to filter pollutants out of the indoor air. A more efficient system will easily remove pollutants and allergens from the air, meaning professional HVAC maintenance will also drastically improve your indoor air quality.
5. Extending the lifespan of your HVAC
An average HVAC system can function well for close to 15 years. However, this number only applies to a well-maintained system.
Because regular maintenance sees to it that the system is clean and smaller moving parts are working well, you’ll reduce the toll on the main components such as the compressor. Thereby, you will effectively extend the lifecycle of the entire system.
6. Save money
As we already mentioned, a well-maintained HVAC uses less energy, which directly translates into monthly savings. But aside from saving money on your utility bills, you will also save money on costly surprise repairs.
It’s worth noting that a brand-new system can cost thousands of dollars. Hence, the longer you put off replacing your current HVAC, the more money you’ll save.
While the investment into a service plan may seem excessive at first, the savings you’ll achieve through professional maintenance will pay for the service itself.
Maintenance Tasks You Can Do on Your Own
You can also improve the efficiency of your HVAC in between professional maintenance visits. Here are some things you should do on your own:
- Replace the filter: since the air filter traps debris and other particles out of the air, stopping them from reaching the system’s interior components, it can get dirty very quickly. This is especially true in the event you have pets or your home is located near a road. Replace the filter every few months to maintain a consistent level of efficiency.
- Check the air ducts: you should continuously inspect the visible portion of your air ducts for cracks. Any separations could lead to air leakage that could result in subpar performance and a dip in the system’s efficiency.
- Clear debris of your exterior unit: this part of the HVAC system is exposed to the elements. As such, you should regularly clean the debris off the exterior unit, as well as clip shrubbery and remove grass from around the unit.
- Stay vigilant: while not maintenance per se, it’s always a good idea to keep a close eye (ears and nose too) on your system at all times. Potential strange smells and noises could indicate an issue that needs to be addressed. Similarly, changes in the cooling performance may be a sign of a drop in efficiency. If you notice any of these, reach out to a technician and they’ll assist you in resolving the issue swiftly.
Are you in Need of a Maintenance Plan?
When you factor in the amount of money you can save with an HVAC maintenance plan, it’s in your best interest to find a reliable HVAC contractor now.
In Central Florida, there is no one better than Mid-Fla Heating & Air.
Our technicians are licensed and highly trained. Since our main goal is to offer the best possible service money can buy, you can always expect a borderline unreal level of dedication and professionalism, no matter the time of the day or the season.
Snag a service plan – call 561-750-1625 or fill out our contact form to book an appointment.
