If you want to keep your HVAC system operating at its best, you will want to keep a regular maintenance schedule. This means you will want to have your unit serviced at least once or twice a year. If you choose a single yearly maintenance visit, the question is when you should have it done.
Many experts will tell you that the fall is ideal for HVAC maintenance. Just as people get busy with spring cleaning as winter passes into the pleasant days of spring, fall can be just as perfect for getting your house in order and that includes your heating and cooling system.
Air conditioner capacitor costs should deter you from seeking help when it’s needed. Rather than waiting until something goes wrong, call your local HVAC professionals and schedule your yearly maintenance to keep your system up and running without fail, prolonging its life span, saving you money on repairs, and lowering your energy costs. Now that you understand how important it is to keep your system properly maintained, let’s talk about eight reasons you should schedule your HVAC service for the fall.
1. Winter Lies Ahead
Once the cooler days of fall begin, you can be certain that winter isn’t far behind. While you’ve likely used your air conditioner heavily during the hot days of summer, you’ve probably used it far less or not at all in the milder temperatures of fall. With winter just around the corner, this is a good time to schedule preventive maintenance so that your system is in good shape for the season ahead.
The last thing you want is to turn on the heat on the first cold winter day only to find it isn’t working. Not only is this a headache, but you’ll find yourself in plenty of company with others trying to find an available technician for their broken heating systems.
During your service visit, the HVAC technician will perform tasks such as these:
- Lubrication of moving parts and bearings
- Electrical, voltage, and current checks
- Heat exchanger, ignition, exchanger, and burner inspections
- Air filter replacement
- Thermostat testing
2. Milder Temperatures
The best time to have your system turned off for routine maintenance is when you don’t need it. If it’s the middle of summer when you need your air conditioning or the dead of winter when you need the heat on, this can be an inconvenient time for a shutoff. It can be even worse if repairs are needed, increasing how long you are without heating or cooling.
In the fall, the weather is usually mild enough that you can do without your system comfortably for the time it takes a technician to inspect, maintain or make any necessary repairs.
3. Extend Equipment Life
By having your HVAC system serviced in the fall, you are ensuring that there is less wear and tear on the moving parts, pressurized lines, and electrical components that can see a lot of use during the coldest days of winter. Service before starting up for the cold weather to come will keep your system operating more efficiently and reduce any potential damage to parts that may encounter friction. This means you’ll extend the life of your system and it will keep you warmer.
4. Reduced Energy Bills
If you are like most people, your winter energy bills tend to increase greatly due to increased use on the coldest days. The more efficiently your HVAC operates, the less energy you’ll use to operate it, reducing your utility bills over the winter months. Proper maintenance is the key to keeping your costs down.
5. Borrowed Time
If you have an older HVAC unit that you’re hoping will make it through winter, then getting routine maintenance done to get you through until spring can buy you time until you can get more extensive work done or upgrade your system during the next mild season. An inspection and tune-up can tell you whether you have the time to put off additional work or will need to go ahead and get the work done.
6. Improved Air Quality
Winter is when many of us spend the most time indoors but with the dryness that comes with running our furnaces, it can be hard on our sinuses and skin. By having your system maintained ahead of time, you can make additional preparations for keeping the humidity levels up to offset this problem.
The EPA cites studies that show the indoor pollution levels in most domestic dwellings can be as much as five times higher than the air outdoors. You’ll want your system clean and ready to tackle the allergens and pollutants that thrive in homes sealed up against the outdoor cold. Preventative maintenance of your HVAC system includes replacing filters and cleaning ducts to prevent harmful buildups that can lead to indoor pollution.
7. Safety
Heating systems that use natural gas, propane, or home heating oil as their fuel source produce carbon monoxide as a byproduct. This deadly gas has no odor or color and can seep into your home if the system used to capture and release it is faulty. Thousands of people every year get sick or even die from carbon monoxide poisoning. This is why it is imperative that you check your heating system before starting it up for the first time in winter. The HVAC technician checking your system can give you the assurances you need that your system is equipped to handle any deadly emissions correctly and safely.
8. Avoid the Rush
Because more people have their HVAC maintenance performed in the spring, it is usually far easier for them to accommodate your schedule in the fall when they have fewer appointments for service. Peak usage seasons like summer and winter are also busy. Fall is always the least hectic season for HVAC technicians to schedule appointments with more flexibility.
● Takeaway
As you can see, scheduling your HVAC maintenance for fall is best for many reasons that benefit both you and your equipment. Because it is a slower season, it is also a great time to find good deals on any upgrades you might need, as well.
