Monthly Maintenance Reminder - Getting Your HVAC System Serviced

When was the last time you got your air conditioning inspected? Whether you have a home maintenance app and are a responsible homeowner who keeps up, or haven’t been too good with caring for your home, here’s this month’s maintenance reminder to get your HVAC system serviced. Here’s why:

HVAC systems are great technological marvels. They make our lives easier and more comfortable. It’s always a great feeling to walk into an air-conditioned room after braving the sticky heat of summer or to feel the warm embrace of heat after walking through the biting cold winds of winter. Thanks to HVAC systems, a lot of places that would be hard for humans to live in are now much more hospitable. We benefit hugely from having HVAC systems everywhere, but we also rely on them. We need HVAC systems to run almost nonstop, year-round. Achieving that means having HVAC systems regularly inspected and maintained. 

Here is your guide to the hows, the whys, the ins, and the outs of HVAC servicing. 

Why Is It Important to Inspect Your HVAC System? 

Why You Should Get Your HVAC System Inspected Regularly

Keeping an HVAC system serviced will keep it reliable and also make it last longer. No one wants their air-conditioning to suddenly stop working in the heat of the dog days of summer. Having a well-maintained HVAC means having peace of mind since it means that you can avoid unwanted surprises like something big breaking. It’s also good for your wallet since it means lower energy bills and less energy waste. Keeping your HVAC equipment clean will keep the air quality in your house fresh, and will also keep the mold and mildew out. 

Good air quality is super important for you and your family’s health. Without proper maintenance, your HVAC system can spread dirt, fungi, bacteria, and allergens throughout your home. This can exacerbate allergies, aggravate asthma, and cause irritation to the eyes and nose. Bad interior air quality can even cause sinusitis, a nasal infection that could lead to your nose becoming blocked. Prolonged exposure to dirt interior air could increase your risk of contracting respiratory diseases. Aside from bad air quality, a poorly maintained HVAC system is also prone to leak refrigeration fluid as valves sealing the fluid decay. If this happens, you could get seriously poisoned. To top it all off, heavy dust accumulation in an under-maintained HVAC system is a major fire hazard. In short, keeping your HVAC in good working order is crucial for keeping you and your family healthy and happy. 

Air Quality In Your Home Is Important for You and Your Family’s Health

Another good reason to keep your HVAC system serviced is that it’s easy. For most HVAC units, a few simple steps suffice to keep everything running smoothly. You might need an HVAC contractor for the bigger maintenance jobs, but there are a bunch of things that can be DIY. 

When Should You Get Your HVAC System Serviced

A key part of HVAC maintenance is paying attention to the different parts of your system, such as vents, the boiler, the condenser (the box that sits outside), and the air handling unit (where the air comes in). You should keep these things clean and free of debris. Different parts of your system will need servicing at different intervals. Filters should be changed regularly, usually every three months. This is an easy DIY job, as is hosing off the outside parts of your HVAC system, like the cooling tower, once per year. 

How Often You Should Get Your Air Conditioner Serviced

It is recommended you hire a licensed contractor for HVAC system servicing at least once every two years. This service interval is enough for a technician to catch most problems before they snowball into something big. Outside of these service intervals, you should call a contractor if you start having HVAC problems that could point to something serious. For example, the sudden appearance of mold, along with a strong musty smell should be a red flag. Some jobs, such as furnace repair, can be risky to do on your own since they involve working with natural gas lines and electricity. For these jobs, a licensed HVAC contractor is a safe and smart choice.

Who Should You Hire for the Job

Get to Know the Professionals Who Will Save Your from a Malfunctioning AC

Your local licensed HVAC contractor can perform important work such as cleaning the drainage system (which can clog with mold), cleaning parts of the system you can’t get to, adding refrigerant, checking your furnace, and making sure wiring is all good. They are therefore the best choice for regular maintenance work on your HVAC system. When looking for an HVAC contractor, there are a few important things to check for. First and foremost, make sure the contractor you are dealing with is licensed and insured. Several state and municipal governments require that HVAC contractors hold a license and carry insurance to work legally. 

This will give you the security of knowing that your HVAC contractor has been certified and is above board. You can check the particular requirements for your state or city here. Another thing to check for is experience and referrals. You don’t need a highly experienced contractor for routine maintenance. Having said that, it’s good to make sure that your contractor has been around the block as far as maintenance goes. You should also seek out referrals from previous customers. A contractor with an established reputation and previous customers willing to vouch for their work is what you’re looking for.  

What You Should Expect to Pay for HVAC Maintenance

How Much Does Air Conditioner Maintenance Cost?

Most HVAC contractors charge a minimum service call fee which ranges from $75 to $200 per hour. How much an HVAC contractor costs will vary depending on your location, what size of home you live in, and what kind of work you need to be done. On average, you can expect to pay between $75 to $150 per hour for maintenance work. To have your HVAC ductwork cleaned, you’ll pay between $300 to $1,000, which amounts to around $35 per air duct. In any case, this is much more affordable than having to put down big money for major repairs. Emergency repairs on an HVAC system can cost anywhere from $350 to $2,000, so it pays to keep things maintained regularly.     

How to Keep Up With Critical Home Maintenance 

How to Stay On Top of the Things that Need Maintenance In Your Home

HVAC systems aren’t the only part of your house that needs maintenance. Regular home maintenance is an important part of homeownership. By keeping things running well, you can keep your house in good condition, preserve its curb appeal, and even increase its value. The average suburban home has several things that will require regular maintenance, including maintaining fixtures, caulking, testing smoke, and carbon monoxide alarms, and watching out for leaks. Our Monthly Maintenance Reminders will give you cool tips to stay on top of monthly maintenance, so be sure not to miss it!