Do you feel satisfied with your central air conditioner and heater in your St. Louis, MO, home? Even the newest and most advanced HVAC unit can start to malfunction when parts get damaged, dirt and debris build up inside, wiring becomes loose, and leaks develop. Sign up for an HVAC maintenance agreement to prevent this.
Leave Maintenance to a Professional
When it comes to maintenance, you should leave it to an expert. While some maintenance tasks are DIY projects, other tasks require specific tools and extensive knowledge about heat transfer, thermodynamics, and other HVAC-related concepts. Ideally, a maintenance plan should provide two tune-ups: a spring AC tune-up and a fall heating tune-up. Below are the benefits of a maintenance plan.
Improves the System’s Health
Anything that forces an HVAC system to work harder than it should will impact the machinery. For example, the following issues can all eventually contribute to overheating in the system:
- Dirty or frozen evaporator coils
- Dirty condenser coils
- Low refrigerant levels
- Unlubricated fan motors and other parts
Excessive strain leads to a shorter life span for the unit. The average HVAC unit lasts between 15 and 25 years. However, if you aren’t scheduling regular maintenance for your HVAC system, then your system’s lifespan will be cut short.
Improves the System’s Energy Efficiency
When the HVAC unit’s health declines, you’re not just faced with the prospect of replacing a few components. All through that period of neglect, your system won’t be operating at peak efficiency, leading to substandard heating and cooling along with high utility bills. Airflow blockage is usually one of the culprits and can, according to the ENERGY STAR program, reduce efficiency by 15%. Blockage can occur because of:
- Debris in the air handler (leaves, twigs, etc.)
- Clogged air filters and vents
- Bent evaporator coil fins
A maintenance technician can address these issues and much more. However, you’ll need to do your part by replacing your filters. If they’re pleated filters, chances are they’ll need to be replaced more than twice a year. The average pleated filter lasts 60 to 90 days.
Prevents Health Issues and Discomfort
Indoor air quality should be a concern for St. Louis homeowners since it can be two to five times worse than outdoor air quality. Regularly maintaining your HVAC unit plays a big role in maintaining good IAQ.
It’s not just a matter of clearing out dirt and debris. Without a tune-up, your HVAC unit may get a clog in its condensate drain, and the resulting condensation buildup can attract biological contaminants. They can exacerbate those with allergy and asthma symptoms. Gas leaks in furnaces pose another health hazard and can lead to a fire.
Saves You Time and Money
We mentioned how a malfunctioning system can raise your energy bills and perhaps never reach the usual 15- to 25-year life span. A maintenance plan can save you money by lowering your monthly utility bills and letting you put off HVAC replacement. In the meantime, you also won’t have to call up a technician so often for serious repairs.
Protects Most Manufacturer’s Warranties
Although manufacturer warranties differ from one another, most require the owner to have professional maintenance done on the unit; otherwise, they may be voided. It stands to reason that the manufacturer should not cover repairs that could easily have been avoided.
Hire Our NATE-Certified Technicians
Indoor Comfort Team was founded in 1979 and continues to serve the people of St. Louis with distinction. We are BBB-accredited and boast certification from the National Comfort Institute. Give us a call today for details about our HVAC work, including our maintenance agreements. One of our technicians will schedule an appointment for you and answer any questions that you have.
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