Skipping Your Maintenance Can Leave You Stranded

Like your car, your heating and cooling equipment needs regular maintenance to run at peak efficiency.  Skipping this maintenance can cost you in unnecessary repairs or even replacement fees.  You wouldn’t skip maintenance on your car, because not taking care of your car regularly (oil changes, tune-ups, etc.) increases the chances that it will break down prematurely and leave you stranded on the side of the road.  The same thing applies to the heating and cooling equipment in your home.  Don’t skip the maintenance on one of the most expensive systems in your home, and wind up without a working system on the hottest or coldest day of the year.

Studies show that approximately half of all HVAC repair calls could have been avoided had the system been maintained regularly.  Regular maintenance can catch problems while they can still be fixed easily, saving your system from breaking down and your wallet from costly repair or replacement fees.  During a typical system tune-up, your technician will complete a lengthy checklist to ensure that everything is running properly, and will inform you of any issues and recommendations for avoiding future repairs and system malfunctions.

Having your system tuned up seasonally can save you in more ways than one.  A well-maintained system can last up to five years longer than one that has not been taken care of and will break down less frequently, saving you time from lengthy repairs and maintenance fees.  Systems that have been tuned-up recently can even save energy and lower your monthly utilities.

A system that has not been maintained is oftentimes dirty.  Built up dirt and dust blocks the air passing through your system and will cause it to have to work harder and run longer, decreasing its efficiency.  The harder your system has to work to heat or cool your home, the more energy it will use and the more you will pay for your utilities.

Systems that work outside of their peak efficiency are also more likely to wear out before it is their time.  While all working equipment will wear out and need to be replaced eventually, taking care of your heating & cooling equipment can indeed lengthen the life of your system and allow you put off replacing it early.

Skipping the maintenance on your heating and cooling system will cost you much more in repairs, premature failure, and higher utilities.  Having your system tuned-up just twice a year, once in the spring and once in the fall, is a simple and much less expensive way to help you avoid suffering the inconvenience.  Contact a licensed HVAC professional to have your system tuned up before it’s too late.  No one likes to be stranded without air conditioning on the hottest day of the year.

Sources:
www.energystar.gov