One of the biggest mistakes you can make when it comes to your HVAC system is neglecting to have a professional maintain it regularly. No matter whether it’s a furnace, air conditioner or heat pump, regular maintenance is just as important as it is for your vehicle. If your house doesn’t have central or ductless air conditioning, you’re fine to just schedule an annual maintenance service each fall before you need to start running your heating. If you have AC, you should make sure to have it maintained each spring as well. Heat pumps should be maintained twice a year since they provide both cooling and heating.
Lower Energy Bills
Even though the weather in Douglas County is fairly mild throughout most of the year, running your HVAC system can still be expensive. If you don’t keep your HVAC system properly maintained, you can be almost certain that you’ll eventually start to see an increase in your monthly gas or electricity bills. Furnaces, heat pumps and air conditioners can all develop a variety of issues that make them work less efficiently if not properly maintained, resulting in longer heating or cooling cycles and an increase in daily energy consumption.
One issue you can commonly encounter with any HVAC system is the blower malfunctioning or getting so dirty that it can’t provide sufficient airflow. If an HVAC system isn’t receiving sufficient airflow, the amount of heating or cooling it puts out will be much lower.
With furnaces, one of the biggest contributors to decreased efficiency is dirty burners. Dirty burners often lead to incomplete combustion, resulting in the flames not producing nearly as much heat and the furnace not working as effectively as it should.
Dirty coils are among the biggest culprits in terms of decreased AC and heat pump efficiency. A dirty condenser coil can be especially problematic, as this issue can easily result in the HVAC system working up to 30% less efficiently than it normally would. If both the condenser coil and the evaporator coil are dirty, the system could end up using twice as much energy.
Better Heating and Cooling Performance
Regular maintenance also ensures that you’ll always have effective heating or cooling whenever you need it. If your HVAC system isn’t receiving sufficient air due to an issue with the blower or because the filter is dirty, it will usually result in weak airflow in some rooms. There may still be sufficient airflow coming out of the vents closest to the furnace/air handler, but the rooms further away will often receive little to no heating or cooling. That means you can end up with cold or hot spots in the house that make it difficult to stay comfortable.
Maintenance is especially important if you heat your house with a heat pump. Although heat pumps are far more efficient, they don’t put out nearly as much heat as furnaces and take longer to raise the temperature. Issues like dirty coils or not having enough refrigerant can potentially decrease a heat pump’s performance so much that it may not ever be able to keep your house fully warm.
Fewer Breakdowns and Repairs
Another reason why it’s always worth paying for professional maintenance is that it can save you money in the end by helping to prevent your HVAC system from breaking down and needing repairs. A well-maintained HVAC system will always be under less strain when it runs and experience less wear and tear. That means components like the blower and fan motor will usually last longer before they start wearing out and no longer work properly. Tasks like cleaning and testing the flame sensor and testing the igniter are crucial for a furnace, as issues with either of these components can prevent a furnace from turning on or cause it to only work sporadically.
In terms of repairs, you should also be aware that the terms of an HVAC system’s warranty stipulate that the warranty is only valid if the system is kept properly maintained. If a problem arises that would normally be covered under the warranty and you can’t provide regular maintenance records, the manufacturer will usually say that neglect was a contributing factor to the problem and deny your warranty claim. Even though the warranty only covers defective components and you’ll still have to pay the labor charges to swap out the component, it still has the potential to save you serious money.
Longer Life Expectancy
The average lifespan of HVAC systems is around 15 years, and you can potentially extend this by a few years more with regular maintenance. A neglected system, on the other hand, could end up failing in as little as 10 years or possibly even sooner. This is another area where maintenance can save you money by allowing you to get more life out of your HVAC system before you need to pay to install a replacement.
The two biggest issues you have to worry about with an HVAC system are the AC or heat pump compressor failing and the heat exchanger in a gas furnace cracking. Both of these problems are generally considered fatal and will require you to replace the entire unit. It is technically possible to just replace these components, but it will usually cost you almost as much as replacing the entire unit due to how difficult and time consuming the process is.
Avoiding Potential Safety Hazards
Although modern HVAC systems have various safety features that are designed to prevent fires and other hazards, certain issues can still arise that may make the system unsafe to use. With a gas furnace, the two biggest concerns are fire and carbon monoxide poisoning. A fire can potentially result from the furnace overheating or the flames not receiving enough oxygen and escaping the combustion chamber. Another concern with any type of HVAC system is that a frayed wire or loose electrical connection could cause a short-circuit and potentially lead to an electrical fire.
In terms of potential carbon monoxide poisoning, the main concerns are if exhaust fumes aren’t being properly vented outside or if there’s a crack in the heat exchanger. The most common reason a heat exchanger will crack is due to it frequently overheating because the furnace isn’t receiving sufficient airflow, which is something that maintenance can easily avoid.
Get Peace of Mind with Routine HVAC Maintenance
Addcox Heating Center is the name to trust for dependable heating and cooling services in Roseburg, Coos Bay and the surrounding areas. Our family-owned and -operated company has been in business for over 50 years, and we have what it takes to keep you comfortable all year long. We offer premier HVAC maintenance services, and our NATE-certified technicians can service all brands and models.
By signing up for our residential or commercial maintenance plan, you can rest assured that you’ll get all of the help you need to keep your HVAC system in peak condition. Signing up for the plan also entitles you to other great benefits like no overtime fees and discounts on repairs and system upgrades. For trustworthy HVAC services at an honest price, contact Addcox Heating Center.
