There are a lot of things you can do by yourself to keep up with home maintenance, and then there are things you should let a contractor handle. HVAC maintenance and repair are usually best left to a professional for a few reasons. Here's a look at why professional HVAC services are important and some types of service you may need.
Reasons To Have Your HVAC Serviced By A Pro
If your HVAC is still fairly new, it may still be under warranty. It's important to read and understand the terms of your warranty so your equipment is protected in case of a breakdown. You might be required to have annual service calls, and you may need to hold on to your receipts as proof work was done on schedule.
Many problems arise with an air conditioner or furnace because of a lack of maintenance. If your furnace or AC overheats and breaks down because of worn parts or dirt buildup due to neglect, your warranty may not cover the repairs.
Besides protecting the warranty, professional service also ensures your equipment operates efficiently so you don't waste money heating or cooling your home. Plus equipment that is serviced regularly is less likely to break down and leave you feeling miserable in your home until repairs can be done.
Types Of HVAC Services You Need
The company you choose may offer routine services twice a year. The visits are usually set up so your air conditioner is serviced in the spring and your furnace is serviced in the fall. This ensures all your equipment is cleaned and checked at least once per year.
Even though a professional does preventative maintenance and cleaning on your equipment, you still need to do things like keep the air handler clean and change the filter on schedule.
Dust builds up in your HVAC equipment even if you change the filter and keep your home clean. When dust collects on the parts in the air handler, your HVAC won't be as efficient, and it may even break down.
Cleaning the internal parts of your HVAC equipment should probably be done by a professional for safety and warranty reasons. It's necessary to pull the parts out sometimes to clean them well, and that can take skill and experience.
Besides cleaning, your air conditioner parts need to be checked, tested, and repaired or replaced before they break down. You should never work on your HVAC when it's plugged in, and even if the power is off, you could still get a shock from a capacitor that holds a charge.
For that reason, you may want to save your DIY home improvement skills for other areas of your house and call HVAC services to keep your air conditioner and furnace in good shape.
Share2 October 2020
Working with HVAC contractors is an important part of being a homeowner. Not only do your contractors ensure that a new system you buy is properly installed, but they also ensure optimal performance throughout the years through a series of regular inspections, maintenance services, and repairs. But there are lots of things you can do in between your contractor's visits to ensure that your HVAC investment is always in tip top condition, aside from cleaning out the air filters. After working with my dad for more than a decade in the HVAC business, I've put together a few methods homeowners can use to maintain a well working system, and I have published those tips and tricks right here on this blog. I hope some of the information you find here helps you on your journey as a homeowner!
