Is that smoke coming from my heat pump? Why is it making that loud noise?
We rotate the tires and change the oil on our car on a regular basis. We do this because we depend on our car every day to get us where we need to be. We all know it is best to pay a little to the auto mechanic now than a lot later when we have a breakdown. The same idea holds true for the HVAC system in your home. Our cars generally get to rest in the driveway or garage by day’s end. Our HVAC system doesn’t get that opportunity in our Midwest climate.
Your HVAC system runs nearly year ‘round pushing the warm air through your home in the winter and cool air in the summer. In the spring and fall, many people rely on their HVAC system to provide them clean, filtered air during peak allergy season. So, when you think about it, our HVAC system is our “means of transport” for comfort. We need to maintain it very much like we do our cars to assure its optimum performance.
Without regular maintenance an air conditioner can lose its efficiency each year costing you more utility dollars. That 13 SEER unit you bought a few years ago may be functioning like a 9 SEER unit today. The good news here is you can recover some of that lost efficiency by having your system maintained regularly by a qualified HVAC Service Technician. The cost of your annual tune-up may likely be offset by reduced utility bills because your system will now be operating at its peak performance level. This annual tune-up could also save you in the long run by helping you avoid overlooked problems that could result in a costly breakdown.
A “don’t wait ‘til it breaks” approach is the best avenue to take for homeowners. Contracting with a reliable HVAC company for an annual Maintenance Agreement helps ease the burden for homeowners to remember to have their system maintained. They contact the homeowner before peak season for maintenance and offer many added benefits like priority service and parts discounts should problems arise.
So then, the answer is, “Yes, you need annual maintenance on your air conditioner” to keep it performing its best.The high efficient, more complicated systems on the market today benefit more than ever by routine maintenance. They are less likely to lose their high efficiency rating, less likely to suffer a major breakdown and more likely to have a longer life span thereby increasing your comfort and operating for less money. An added reason, too, is the manufacturer requires annual maintenance to keep the warranties in full force and effect.
