Are you considering purchasing an HVAC maintenance plan? Before you do, make sure it features the elements found in this guide.
You rely on your HVAC unit to keep you cool in the spring and summer months.
Since temperatures for the warmer months are projected to continue to climb over the next few years, more and more families and businesses alike are looking into HVAC maintenance plans.
These are plans offered by HVAC companies that combine preventative maintenance with repairs and part replacements. This way, you can rest easy and beat the heat knowing that your HVAC unit will remain in good working order when you need it the most.
But what should you look for in an HVAC maintenance plan and the air conditioning companies that provide them?
Read on to find out.
What an HVAC Maintenance Plan Should Include
Especially if your HVAC unit has been on the fritz way more often than usual, investing in an HVAC maintenance plan is the right move.
But what should yours include?
Basic Cleaning
There are quite a few aspects of your unit that will need to be cleaned throughout the year.
A good plan will include a thorough coil cleaning. Keeping your unit’s coils clean can help to extend the life of your unit and ensure that it’s operating efficiently.
Cleaning coils on your own can be a bit dangerous—especially if they’re already coated in dust—so it’s best left to the experts.
They should also inspect and clean the outdoor unit, and professionals may recommend that you remove bushes and branches that could cause a problem. A maintenance plan should also include a cleaning of your exhaust fans.
Calibration and Lubrication
During the maintenance, an expert should ensure that any gas and oil connections are free from leaks.
They’ll also check your refrigerant levels to keep things operating efficiently. If airflow is frequently an issue for you, the tech will also inspect and adust the blower.
If needed, the tech will also inspect your thermostat’s settings to ensure that all is in good working order. They’ll also lubricate your system to prevent those clanging and squealing noises that can keep you up at night.
Here, they’ll also replace or repair any missing or broken parts.
Inspection
Finally, make sure the plan includes a thorough inspection of your entire unit. They’ll check your filter, conduct an operation assessment, and examine your condensate drain for any blockage.
Most importantly, the professional will inspect your electrical connections.
They’ll take voltage readings to help make sure there are no issues. They’ll also take a look at burners, heat exchangers, and the system’s ignition.
Choose the Right Air Conditioning Contractors
In addition to knowing what to look for in an HVAC maintenance plan, you also need to be certain you’ve chosen the right contractors.
First of all, ask about their education and training. You need to know that the people in your home are not only properly certified, but also that they have experience in working with your specific make of unit.
We also suggest that you ask whether or not the company conducts background checks on its employees. After all, especially with a maintenance plan, it’s highly likely that you won’t always be at home when the work is being done.
You need to know you can trust the employees the company has hired.
Make sure that you can choose from a wide variety of HVAC maintenance plans, as each unit type will require a different level of service. Newer units, for example, will only need to be serviced about twice a year. Older ones, however, may require more frequent repairs.
DIY HVAC Maintenance
While there are certainly some issues that require you to call in professional HVAC companies, there are many basic maintenance tasks you can handle on your own.
The simplest—and the most important—is for you to change your unit’s filter frequently.
It’s best for you to change your AC filter at least once every 30 days. (This is much more frequent than most people assume.)
If you don’t change the filter, it’s easier for your HVAC unit to spread dirt, dust, and dander around your home. This seriously impacts your indoor air quality, and can certainly aggravate any allergies you may have.
Plus, because the filter is clogged with dust and dirt, it simply can’t cool your home as efficiently as it once did. This means not only more discomfort for you but also sky-high energy bills.
Changing your filter is a simple task that doesn’t take more than ten minutes. In some cases, you may be able to just clean off the filter and replace it.
Make sure you don’t place any items directly in front of or over your air ducts. Leave about three feet of space between vents and your carpeting. Clean registers about once a week to prevent a pileup of dust.
Ready to Invest in an HVAC Maintenance Plan?
As this post has taught you, having an HVAC maintenance plan in place can help you to save money on costly repairs and extend the overall life of your unit.
Make sure to do your research on the specific HVAC company, and don’t forget to follow the DIY HVAC maintenance advice for the best results.
Don’t let another problem with your HVAC unit leave you miserable. Instead, invest in preventative maintenance.
Curious about what you can do to extend the life of some of your home’s most important appliances? Need to do a quick DIY fix on your toaster, your washing machine, or anything else?
Our blog has you covered for all that and more. Bookmark our page for more tips on how to keep your home in tip-top shape.
