Do I Really Need HVAC Maintenance Twice a Year?

Residential heat pump

Routine maintenance of your HVAC system is the best way to ensure that your HVAC system will last as long as possible and makes sure that your money goes as far as possible when it comes to replacing your unit and paying your energy bills.

You will notice many differences over time if you make sure your system has routine maintenance. You will have fewer repairs, reduce the chance of a breakdown happening during a high-use time, extend the life of your equipment, and ensure that your family is has a comfortable environment safe from carbon monoxide.

In a previous blog, we discussed maintenance you can do yourself to help keep your system in shape. You might want to click the link and check that out! Some tasks can only be done by a professional, State Certified HVAC contractor, so you’ll want to leave the twice-yearly maintenance to them.  It may seem that all maintenances are created equal, but actually, spring maintenance has its own unique aspects, and so does fall. So, you truly do need to have two per year in order to make sure that the different parts used in each season are running perfectly.

What do they emphasize at each maintenance? Read on…

 

Spring Maintenance: 

Spring maintenance is to get your cooling system in tip-top shape before it needs to go into high use for summer. Your certified HVAC contractor will do the following services to ensure that:  

  • • Inspect and clean the indoor coil
  • • Check your furnace or air handler blower to make sure it’s working and clean
  • • Check the refrigerant level and refill if needed

If the level is low, a good HVAC contractor will not just refill the refrigerant, but check for a leak and if there is one, either repair or replace the part. If there is a leak, simply refilling the refrigerant will not be a long term fix. Refrigerant will likely run out when you start to utilize your system more as thing heat up and then you are dealing with emergency repairs in the heat.

Maintenance before the high use season of summer will help you avoid having to place an emergency call to your HVAC contractor! Some contractors provide continuing maintenance agreements or contracts. This way you don’t have to remember to make the appointment every time, and you know that you have a set appointment scheduled before each busy season begins.  You can also save some money by signing up for this service, as they sometimes provide a less expensive rate for the service since it is ongoing and scheduled.

 

Fall Maintenance

While some maintenance tasks are the same from season to season, there are several services unique to fall as well. At your fall maintenance, your HVAC contractor will check out your heating system to make sure it is ready to go when winter winds blow!

What it entails:

  • • Clearing leaves and debris from around outside unit
  • • Turn on each electric heater and verify proper heat pump defrost cycle
  • • Turn on each natural gas furnace and ensure proper operation of all safety mechanisms 

Your HVAC contractor will want to not only get your system ready for use but actually test it out. This will ensure that there are no surprises when you turn your system on during the first cold day of the year.

If you have a gas furnace, in particular, it is crucial to keep it maintained. Your heat exchanger can develop cracks without you noticing, putting your family’s health at risk! Carbon monoxide “The Silent Killer” is an odorless, colorless gas created from burning the fuel used to heat your home. If it leaks into your home, it can cause nausea, dizziness, headaches and more. If you think you are experiencing a carbon monoxide leak, it’s important to turn your furnace off until a certified HVAC contractor can check it over and fix the leak.

If this happens in the winter (when you’re likely to use your system) you’ll be unable to heat your home until it’s fixed, and you and your family will be very cold until you can get an appointment, you may even have to stay in a hotel until you can safely heat your home again. You can see how preventative maintenance can save you a lot on unexpected repair costs!

What do they have in common?

Some maintenance is the same from season to season. Services usually performed during maintenance no matter the season is:

  • • Inspecting, and most often changing, the filters

While it is recommended that you change your own filter more often depending on the size of your family, number of pets and type of home, your HVAC contractor will also make sure that you have fresh filters whenever they perform maintenance.

  • • Clean and remove debris from your entire system

to prevent it from entering and reducing air quality or damaging the system

  • • Check the condensate drain to ensure it is free of clogs

Your heat pump and your air conditioner both utilize this drain, so this will need to be cleared during both seasons.

  • • Checking and comparing the thermostat settings

This is more than just looking at the thermostat. Your HVAC technician will be able to ensure that the climate in your home is actually the temperature your thermostat says it is.

  • • Check all the electrical connections

There are a lot of electrical parts all talking to each other inside of your system. Making sure the connections are clean and working can save you from having to replace one of them earlier than you’d like.

  • • Add lubricant to any parts that need it

Because your system is full of moving parts, they will wear over time as they come into contact with each other. After cleaning all debris from the system, your HVAC technician will lubricate moving parts to help them last longer.

 

Please let us know if you have any questions about maintenance on your own HVAC system!

 

 

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