Why You Should Have Preventive Maintenance Done on Your HVAC System
Updated 3/30/22
Imagine your HVAC system breaking down in the middle of winter. Imagine the torture of living in freezing temperatures. Imagine the desperation you would go through to get your HVAC repaired. You would be calling the heating and air conditioning services providers and begging them to come to look at your system immediately. If they told you that you need a new heating and cooling unit, you’d never object. What if there was a way you could ensure that this never happens? What if little preventive measures would keep your HVAC system in good condition for decades.
The old adage prevention is better than cure applies to even how we take care of our HVAC systems. There are preventive measures that can be taken to ensure that our HVAC systems always function as they should have the ac and the furnace unit checked on a regular basis. This ensures that the AC and furnace unit work both in the cold and hot seasons to keep temperatures regulated. It is also important to check the ac and heater fan. Installing partial air conditioning may help cut energy costs and also improve temperature regulation.
There’s perhaps nothing quite as disheartening as your air conditioning or heating system going out in the middle of a cold spell or heat wave. You rely on your HVAC system to provide comfort from the temperature year round and when it goes on the fritz, it can really have a negative impact on your quality of life. In extreme cases, not having heating or reliable cooling systems can even be deadly. Having an HVAC company’s number to call for emergency HVAC repair can be literally a lifesaver and certainly make your life more comfortable. Additionally, your HVAC can have an impact on your air quality and if you live in a smoggy area, it can filter out some harmful substances in the air. There are also steps you can take to help avoid calling emergency HVAC repair services. Good maintenance and inspections can go a long way towards keeping your HVAC system in good working order.
What Does an HVAC Provide?
HVAC stands for heating, ventilation and air conditioning and is a system that’s designed to provide comfort indoors and in vehicles, whether that’s providing hot or cool air. It also should filter your air and improve your air quality indoors (hence the ventilation). You’ll often see HVAC systems in bigger commercial buildings or facilities that house large numbers of people, like offices or senior living centers, but apartments and homes can also have HVAC systems.
The HVAC industry is regulated by several organizations that are in charge of regulation and setting standards and encourage high achievement and general standards across the board. In the United States, the main organization that HVAC engineers can obtain a license or certification from is the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers.
How Can I Keep My HVAC Up and Running?
Maintenance and servicing are important items to check off your list to avoid emergency HVAC repair. Generally, the most efficient HVAC systems need to be inspected twice a year and the filters on HVAC systems should be changed every one to three months, depending on usage, per Energystar.gov.
Make sure that debris like leaves or grass are kept cleared away from your air conditioning or heating units and that they have at least a couple feet of space around them. If your HVAC system has a refrigerator aspect, you should check the refrigerant every couple of months. In the summer, you can turn off the water that runs to the humidifier and in the winter, you should clean out that filter (or replace it) and turn the water back on.
Make sure units get a good cleaning before and after the season they’re being used in. If you’ve been having problems with your HVAC, it’s worth checking in on one of your biannual inspections to see if the HVAC was installed properly. An improper installation could keep your home’s heating and cooling from being as efficient as possible — as much as 30%. For energy savings alone, you want to be sure that your HVAC is running in as good shape as possible.
Why It’s Good to Know an HVAC Service
An HVAC contractor knows exactly what they’re doing and can spot trouble spots in advance. Even if you can clean the filter and replace refrigerant, it’s not guarantee that you could see an element of your HVAC that might need attention sooner rather than later. If anything goes wrong, and you should need emergency HVAC repair, having an HVAC service number in your address book or contact list can reduce the frustration and time looking up a reliable HVAC service when you need assistance immediately.
If you’re thinking about replacing your HVAC service, your HVAC contractor may have suggestions about what’s new and popular on the market or what might work well with your budget and home.
Keep your home comfortable with an HVAC system that’s running well and in good condition. Preventive maintenance can go a long way towards keeping you away from emergency HVAC repair and severe discomfort.