It’s important to have your heater, air conditioner, and ductwork professionally maintained in your Norcross, Georgia home. But how often is often enough? With annual HVAC service, you can extend the lifespan of your HVAC system, reduce your carbon footprint, and enjoy manageable energy bills. You can also optimize your home comfort and boost your indoor air quality (IAQ). Read on to find out why yearly HVAC maintenance is so important.
Maintain Compliance With Your Home Insurance Policy and Warranty Agreements
Among the top reasons to schedule annual HVAC maintenance is the need to comply with the terms of home insurance policies, home warranty agreements, and product manufacturer warranties. When you purchase a new furnace or air conditioner, the functioning of this equipment is guaranteed by its manufacturer typically for up to five years. If defect-related problems occur throughout this time, having an active manufacturer warranty will eliminate the need to pay for covered repairs or replacements out of your own pocket. Home insurance plans cover peril-related damages to HVAC systems in the event of floods, fires, and more. If you purchased a home warranty agreement that includes protections for your home systems, this agreement will cover any HVAC problems that are the direct result of aging and normal wear.
All of these protections come as part of mutually binding agreements. Among these promises is a commitment to diligently preventing claims-related issues through proper use, routine maintenance, and other strategies. For instance, you’re likely required to perform regular HVAC air filter changes, request repairs as soon as problems are detected, and schedule routine maintenance services with licensed HVAC professionals. Therefore, if you aren’t having your HVAC equipment professionally maintained each year, you’re likely in danger of losing the protections that your warranties and home insurance supply. To prevent these agreements from being voided, read through all relevant policies and contracts to learn more about the specific requirements for equipment maintenance. Then, set your HVAC maintenance schedule accordingly.
Identify Developing Issues Early On
Signs of heater and air conditioner stress aren’t always easy to detect. Many problems initially manifest as slight changes in how these units sound when operating, the development of faint odors, or almost imperceptible increases in run times. If you aren’t paying close attention, you might never notice that your HVAC system is working both harder and longer to regulate your home’s temperature.
Scheduling annual HVAC maintenance is an easy way to stay abreast of changes in your equipment’s functioning. Air conditioner and heater tune-ups are comprehensive, multi-pronged processes that include thorough inspections, replacement of worn parts, system calibrations, and more. When problems are identified during these visits, homeowners have the opportunity to resolve them while they’re still relatively minor and inexpensive to repair.
Ensure Resident Safety
For HVAC systems that include fuel-burning appliances such as gas-fired or oil-fired heaters, annual inspections are essential for ensuring resident safety. Licensed HVAC technicians carefully inspect the exhaust systems for these units, so that the risk of carbon monoxide (CO) exposure is minimized. For all HVAC equipment types, annual maintenance additionally addresses the potential for electrical problems that may be fire or electrocution hazards. Moreover, they also play an important role in protect and improving indoor air quality (IAQ).
During routine HVAC maintenance, dirt, dust, dander, pollen, and countless other contaminants are removed from hard-to-reach areas. Airflow is optimized, filters are changed or upgraded, and vents, coils, registers, and more are cleaned. If you haven’t scheduled professional HVAC service in a while, doing so now could lead to a healthier and far more enjoyable indoor environment overall.
Get Ready for Essential HVAC Replacements
Annual HVAC maintenance becomes increasingly important as furnaces and air conditioners get older. Aging units have a higher likelihood of breaking down, and their components are more likely to have significant wear and tear. Scheduling yearly maintenance later in your HVAC equipment’s lifespan also makes it easier to plan and prepare for the inevitability of replacement.
During these visits, we can estimate how many years are remaining in the lifespans of these units, and we can also share the approximate costs of replacing them. Our technicians can even help you identify the efficiency-related tax credits that you may be qualified to receive while also sharing information on our financing options and special offers.
Protect the Lifespan of Your Heating and Cooling Equipment
Furnaces and air conditioners that are well-maintained tend to last a lot longer than those that are not. Taking care of developing problems right away prevents them from impacting other features and components. If you continue using your heater or air conditioner despite fixable changes in its efficiency or functioning, you’ll subject this unit to a lot of unnecessary wear. Ongoing maintenance minimizes stress by clearing out debris that might otherwise result in overheating, extra work, and airflow issues. When cleaned and calibrated, your HVAC equipment can do its job with less energy and in a shorter amount of time. Throughout the years, annual maintenance will mean fewer repairs and more time before your equipment must be swapped out.
How Skipping Annual HVAC Maintenance Will Affect Your Energy Bill
If you’re worried about your carbon footprint or the costs of using your HVAC system, annual maintenance is essential. Even the most efficient air conditioners and heaters will under-perform if they’re incorrectly installed and ill-maintained.
Build-up of dirt and other debris on the interior of your HVAC equipment can inhibit airflow and increase energy demand. Damaged and low-functioning components can also impact energy consumption. To optimize the efficiency of your units, it’s important to stay on track with all manufacturer-recommended maintenance. More often than not, this means having each unit serviced at least once every 12 months.
What Does Annual HVAC Maintenance Mean?
Your heater and air conditioner are active during different seasons, and both should ideally be tuned up right before their time of greatest demand. This means having your air conditioner maintained in early to mid-spring and scheduling furnace tune-up service in autumn or early winter.
There’s also the matter of your HVAC ductwork. If you aren’t caring for your ducting as well, you won’t experience many of the benefits that annual maintenance provides. Damaged ductwork can result in issues with your airflow and also potential IAQ problems. It can also greatly increase the amount of work that your HVAC equipment is required to do, putting unnecessary strain on your system. Therefore, HVAC ducting should be inspected yearly as well. It should also be professionally cleaned about once every three to five years.
We’re proud to serve residents of Norcross, GA and the surrounding area. We offer heating, air conditioning, plumbing, and drain cleaning services. We also provide indoor air quality services and preventative maintenance plans. To find out more about signing up for preventative maintenance or to schedule an appointment, contact Bardi Heating, Cooling & Plumbing! We’d be glad to assist you with all your HVAC service needs.