We’ve all been there: a surprise heating or cooling system breakdown that leaves you either shivering in the dead of winter or sweltering in a house that’s hotter than your backyard.
Preventive maintenance through planned HVAC maintenance is the way to avoid such a scenario.
Why should you get preventive HVAC service?
Like a car, your HVAC system needs regular maintenance to ensure that it’s running efficiently.
According to the Indoor Air Quality Association, routine maintenance on your heating and cooling system is essential:
To save you money.
Getting your system checked and serviced regularly will help it run efficiently, catch problems before they lead to a breakdown, and keep your system running longer. All of this saves you money on your monthly bills and puts off the day when you’ll have to replace the system.
To improve your air quality.
Regularly checking and cleaning your system and air ducts keeps down dust (which can carry dust mites, pet dander, and mold). Keeping allergens down helps you and your family stay healthy.
To make you more comfortable.
Regular maintenance helps keeps your home a steady, comfortable temperature. Whatever type of system you have, ensuring that it’s working like it’s supposed to means you need a technician to check it regularly to make sure it’s distributing air properly so you can stay cozy or cool.
To keep your home safer.
Regular maintenance helps ensure that a system failure won’t lead to frozen, burst pipes and water damage. Having a technician out regularly can also protect you from carbon monoxide exposure due to a faulty heat exchanger.
To go greener.
A maintained HVAC system is a more fuel-efficient HVAC system. Having a technician’s eye on your system is also good for the planet because they can give you the most updated information on refrigerant options and other ways to keep the environmental impact of your system as low as possible.
What should I look for in HVAC planned maintenance?
When you’re choosing an HVAC servicing company, find out what their routine maintenance includes and how often they do it. In our opinion, you should have your system checked at least annually.
There’s a big difference between an inspection and full maintenance. If a company offers a “clean and check,” you’re getting exactly what it sounds like: they clean the exterior and do a visual inspection of your system, but they don’t take any measurements or extensively check the components. (That’s like a doctor asking how you’re doing without taking your blood pressure!) These kinds of services are often done by a less experienced technician.
A full-service approach is a check and repair of all the different components of your system. It should include checks of firing efficiency, pressure, and system vitals. They should also be checking the averages on motors and making adjustments.
It’s simple to figure out whether planned maintenance is full-service or not. Simply ask them to explain the service and list what it includes. If they have an existing checklist, even better.
What are CHAC’s preventive maintenance options?
Capital Heating & Cooling has two preventive maintenance membership programs for your HVAC system: Comfort Care and Comfort Care Plus. You know we have to tell you all the good stuff! Advantages include:
- You never have to remember to schedule. We call you! As long as you’re a membership, it’s up to us to come out and do a maintenance check once a year.
- You pay however it suits you best: yearly, quarterly, or monthly. We’re flexible.
- There are no overtime charges.
- You get 10% off repairs, services, and filters.
- We prioritize your service, even if our schedule is packed.
Our Comfort Care program is best if:
- Your system is still new and under warranty.
- There’s less of a chance of a breakdown occurring.
- You want to maintain your system with minimal investment.
Our Comfort Care Plus program is best if:
- Your system is out of warranty.
- You have an older system that could experience a breakdown.
- You want free parts and labor included.
Need a checklist for what these services include? Here’s a complete list of what’s included in each service on our website.
More on maintenance:
HVAC tips for pet owners
Our spring HVAC checklist
Check your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms
Gas fireplace maintenance
HVAC filters
Photo Credit to One Beautifull Life Photo