HVAC Maintenance: Preventing Future Repairs

HVAC Maintenance. Your HVAC system is one of the biggest expenses you will have in your home. With the proper care, your unit can last for many years and help keep your home at a comfortable temperature, regardless of what the weather is like outside. You may think did you only need to have your HVAC system looked at when various components start to malfunction, but it is important to keep up with a regular maintenance schedule. By scheduling routine maintenance appointments, you can keep your unit in great condition for many years.

What Is Preventative Maintenance?

A preventative maintenance visit is when an HVAC technician looks at your unit to make sure it is running at optimal performance. During these visits, the technician can determine if all components are working properly. By identifying any parts that may be starting to malfunction, the technician can replace them before they become an issue, so you can avoid a costly HVAC repair. The purpose of this type of HVAC appointment is to ensure that you are unit is heating and cooling properly to keep your home at a comfortable temperature.

Why Is Maintenance Important?

Your HVAC system works hard to keep your home at a comfortable temperature. Years of wear and tear can cause it to malfunction prematurely. If you wait until your HVAC unit starts to malfunction to repair it, you are probably incurring significant damage that costs a lot to repair. Regular maintenance can help you avoid expensive repairs and keep your unit clean to run more smoothly. 

What Happens With a Maintenance Appointment?

During a visit for HVAC repair, a technician will identify the reason for heating and cooling problems and replace the malfunctioning part. A maintenance visit is a little different because there is nothing obviously wrong with the unit. Your HVAC system should still be running, and you should not have noticed any issues if it has been properly maintained. A good HVAC technician will use the following steps to keep you are unit well maintained:

  • Discuss the unit’s performance with you to make sure there have been no noticeable issues.
  • Examine each component of your system to ensure there are no potential difficulties.
  • Lubricate moving parts.
  • Ensure the unit is heating and cooling the home evenly.
  • Tighten any loose electrical connections.
  • Clean the entire unit to keep it running at top performance.
  • Check thermostat settings.

How Often Should You Schedule Maintenance?

It is best to have your HVAC unit checked out every time the weather has a drastic shift. This typically means your system should be serviced at least twice a year, unless you notice any issues. HVAC technicians check out your system during the spring and fall before the weather turns hot or cold. If you keep up with these appointments, you are less likely to need major repairs during extreme temperatures.

Avoid Future HVAC Issues With Clean Condenser Coils

Over time, dirt, dust, pollen, and other pollutants can settle on the condenser coils of your HVAC system. Dirty coils cause the unit to run less efficiently and could make the unit run longer than it needs to. You could rack up enormous energy bills if your AC is running all the time to keep your home cool and comfortable, so keeping your condenser coils clean is important for increasing the lifespan of your system. One of the many things a technician from Superior Cooling will do during a preventative maintenance visit is to clean the coils so that your unit continues to run efficiently. 

Keeping Your HVAC System Running Smoothly

Working with a certified HVAC company is the best way to keep your unit well-maintained so that it lasts for many years, but there are a few things you can do to help your unit heat and cool your home efficiently. Try to avoid running the unit constantly because this habit can wear it out quickly. Use alternative ways to help keep hot and cold air circulating throughout your house so that the HVAC system only needs to run intermittently to help maintain a comfortable temperature.

Making sure that your home is well-insulated is another way to keep your unit running more efficiently. The more hot or cold air that is trapped inside your house, the more comfortable you will be inside. You should also inspect doors and windows to make sure there are no microscopic cracks around them that could let air escape from your home. 

These tips can help you maintain the efficacy of your HVAC system, but they are no replacement for maintenance visits. You still need the help of a professional to make your unit last for decades. Make sure you schedule maintenance at least twice a year so that you can avoid major repairs and help your unit last as long as possible. 

How To Know When To Call in a Professional

While maintenance visits help reduce the number of costly repairs you require, you may still experience occasional HVAC issues. It’s never a good idea to wait until your next maintenance appointment to repair your unit, even if the problem is minor. Small issues can spiral out of control quickly, so it is best to contact a professional at the first sign of trouble. Your technician may find occasional issues during routine maintenance, but these issues should not be frequent if you are caring for your unit properly. Remember that the faster you get your unit repaired, the smaller the damage will be, so you can save money.

Schedule an Appointment for HVAC Maintenance Today

Scheduling routine maintenance appointments are important for keeping your HVAC system running at peak performance. If you live in the area of Apache Junction, Arizona, Superstition Cooling is here to help you keep your air conditioner running smoothly. Located on East 18th Avenue near South Barkley Road, our shop is in a convenient spot to perform routine HVAC maintenance for all residents of Apache Junction and the surrounding East Valley. Contact us today to schedule an appointment for HVAC maintenance.

 

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