When Should a Home Heating and Cooling System be Serviced?
Homeowners often neglect their heating and cooling systems until the units show signs of wear and tear or become less efficient. Investing in regular maintenance services is necessary to maximize the HVAC system. This article shares the best time for an HVAC check.
When to schedule a checkup
Scheduling an HVAC unit checkup at least once a year is highly recommended to avoid undetected issues and expensive repairs. Homes with furnaces and air conditioners require maintenance checks for each unit. However, the time for the service differs depending on the system type.
Heat pumps
Heat pumps benefit most from bi-yearly checkups since they run all year long. It is best to schedule maintenance for the heat pump before summer and winter. Doing so will expand the unit's lifespan and keep breakdowns at bay.
Air conditioners
Spring is the best time for servicing air conditioners. Mild temperatures allow homeowners to test the AC. Should an issue appear, it gives owners enough time to fix it before the first heat wave arrives.
Furnaces
Service furnaces before winter to ensure the unit provides optimal performance during its peak season.
The importance of routine HVAC maintenance
Scheduling multiple HVAC checks throughout the year is a significant investment, especially if no issues are detected. But sooner or later, problems will appear, and identifying them in the beginning stage will lower the repair cost.
Homeowners who never schedule checkups experience more heating and cooling system failures.
Regular HVAC maintenance costs an average of $120 per visit, while repairs can cost thousands of dollars depending on the severity of the issue.
Maintenance check services
What exactly does a heating and cooling system check include? Examples include, but are not limited to:
Air filter cleaning and replacement
Indoor and outdoor coil cleaning
Condensate pump maintenance
General visual inspection
Blower and compression operation check
Thermal expansion valve test
Checkup of reversing valve response in heat pumps
Refrigerant level check
Leak check
The temperature differential between return vents and supply test
Burner and pilot lights in furnaces
Thermostat control
These are some of the checkups an HVAC team performs during a regular maintenance service.
Benefits of regular HVAC maintenance
Frequent maintenance services have numerous advantages:
Identification of potential issues
Maximum efficiency of the HVAC system
Lower energy cost
Added dependability
Prolonged lifespan of the equipment
Lower chance of breakdown
Peace of mind for the homeowner
Want a healthy HVAC system? Schedule regular checkups
Follow this article's advice for scheduling HVAC checkups for maximum system efficiency. Investing a couple of hundred dollars a few times per year could save thousands in the long run. Plus, nothing beats the peace of mind of knowing the crucial heating and cooling system units are in perfect order.
Contact local HVAC service providers to schedule a checkup to prepare the system for the upcoming season.
CMB Air is a residential heating and cooling installation, service, and repair company with 15+ years of experience serving Tampa and surrounding areas. If you need a new air conditioner, repair, maintenance or some other service, we can help! Call (813) 447-1443 today!