You wouldn’t want your HVAC to break down at the most inopportune times; you’d like it to run smoothly and efficiently, especially during the frigid winter and the sweltering summer months.
It would also be best to note that contractors might be hard to find during these seasons as people scramble at the last minute to check their equipment.
It’s necessary to conduct regular maintenance to ensure its tip-top shape to keep your HVAC functioning smoothly.
Routine maintenance of your equipment done by credible HVAC maintenance contractors will ensure that your unit is functioning at its best at any given time.
To give you a better idea, here are the reasons why regular HVAC maintenance is essential:
- To Prevent Costly Breakdowns
The unit is expensive, and having it fixed is a must and quite costly. The repair cost for a unit range from USD$75-150 per hour, not including the service fee of USD$70-200. The maximum cost of repair can reach USD$2,900.
Should you need to have your unit repaired, you will need to spend a lot of money not included in your budget, money that could go somewhere worthwhile like food or travel. Having your units properly maintained every six months will prevent unnecessary expenses for your home.
- Extend The Life Of The Unit
An HVAC unit has a lifespan of 15 to 25 years, but that still varies depending on other factors such as:
- Improper installation
- Excessive usage
- Oversizing and under-sizing the system
- Inappropriate utilization – using the unit with windows and doors open
- Use of units in coastal areas
- Use of defective or low-quality components
- Poor maintenance practices
Among those mentioned, poor maintenance practices and their lack are the most damaging to an HVAC unit. Accelerated component wear will occur when units are not maintained appropriately, leading to a shorter life span.
Standard maintenance includes routine inspection and cleaning. This may consist of replacing or upgrading filters, cleaning ducts, adding refrigerant, lubricating components, checking pipes for leaks, and testing thermostats.
When this is not checked and addressed, the unit’s efficiency will dwindle, causing excessive strain to the system. The system will fail to deliver its function or may stop working altogether.
- Reduced Energy Consumption
A properly maintained HVAC system will have set points to achieve desired comfort levels. This ensures the system doesn’t work more than necessary for any given period. Most modern HVAC units can be programmed to run at speeds that deliver the required heating or cooling demands of the space they serve.
When you can program this in every room or area of your home, you’ll know that the system is only running as required resulting in reduced energy consumption. Professional and licensed contractors are trained in this matter and can set this for your units.
A worn, clogged, and dirty filter will affect the airflow and reduce the efficiency of your system. It is required to replace the filter at least every three months to enhance the efficiency of your system and save at least 5-15% energy.
- Improve Air Quality
Dirt, dust, pollen, dander, and other contaminants can get trapped in your HVAC filters, and when this is not taken out and cleaned, the dirty air will circulate in your home and affect everyone’s health.
When the air quality coming from your HVAC unit is not addressed, family members with allergies may suffer severely. In addition, poor air quality may induce headaches, fatigue, trouble breathing, sneezing, runny nose, and watery eyes, and trigger asthma. If things worsen and molds have formed on the filters, this may result in respiratory problems.
- Reduce Your Carbon Footprint
Carbon footprint is the numerical depiction of the quantity of carbon dioxide generated by human activity. Fort the past decade, environmentalists and activists have tried their best to educate the masses about how to reduce individual carbon footprints to decrease greenhouse gas emissions and slow the effects of climate change. If not addressed, the continuous deterioration of the planet will increase global temperatures resulting in catastrophic natural disasters.
An improperly maintained HVAC will consume more power, resulting in more waste gas byproducts. In the United States, about 40% of carbon dioxide emissions result from the demand for heating and cooling since about 8% of the total electricity generated in the country accounts for residential HVAC use.
If your HVAC is appropriately maintained, your contractor may have shifted to using “Puron” instead of “Freon” as a refrigerant. Puron or R-410A is a hydrocarbon refrigerant that doesn’t have chlorine. This type of refrigerant is now preferred since it’s more environment-friendly.
Conclusion
The regular maintenance of your HVAC has so many benefits that far outweigh the cost it will incur in the bi-annual service you will compensate. You may need to prioritize this since your, and your family’s health is on the line, and the financial burden should you neglect to do this could be detrimental.
