7 Reasons You Need to Have Your HVAC System Looked at Before Winter
Winter is just around the corner, which means it’s time to start preparing your home for the cold weather. The first thing you need to do is have your heating system inspected by a professional. Here are seven reasons why.
1. Your HVAC System May Not Be Operating Efficiently
Your heating system is what keeps you and your family warm in the winter, so it must be operating efficiently. The colder the outside temperature, the harder an HVAC system will work to keep your home comfortable. If you suspect there may be a problem with your unit, such as clogs in the drainage pipe or a dirty filter, it’s important to get it checked out before the weather gets too cold.
2. You Might Find Out There’s a Problem with Your Furnace
Your furnace is what heats the air that your HVAC system then blows throughout your home. It’s possible that there could be a problem with it. This is why you should have it inspected by a pro before winter begins, so you can get the repairs made if needed.
3. It Helps Keep the Manufacturer’s Warranty Valid
If you purchased your heating system from a reputable dealer, it’s probably covered by a warranty for parts and labor. To keep the warranty valid, you need to have all recommended maintenance performed by a certified HVAC technician. Otherwise, you won’t be able to make a warranty claim if the unit fails.
4. You Might Save Money on Your Heating Bill
A poorly operating HVAC system can use up to twice as much energy as a properly functioning one. This means you could be spending a lot more money than necessary on heating costs, so it makes sense to have a professional look at your system before the heating season begins. Remember, something as simple as changing or cleaning a dirty filter could keep your system running more efficiently, and you could cut down on the amount of money you spend to heat your home.
5. It Can Prolong the Life of Your HVAC System and Furnace
A poorly operating HVAC system can cause overheating that could damage your equipment. If left unrepaired, there’s a risk the problem will get worse over time. Scheduling an inspection as soon as possible helps prevent this from happening and protects your investment. It is especially important to have your heat exchangers inspected and cleaned (most manufacturers recommend cleaning heat exchangers at least once every five years).
6. Your Indoor Air Quality Will Improve
If your air ducts have not been inspected or cleaned in the past year, you might want to have this done as soon as possible. With time, biological contaminants from dust mites, mold, plant pollen, etc., can build up in your air ducts. Leaving them there could pose a health risk to you and your family. A professional inspection can help identify these contaminants so they can be removed. This will ultimately improve your indoor air quality and protect you from allergens and other irritants. Remember indoor air can be up to 100 times more polluted than outdoor air.
7. You Can Prevent Significant and Potentially Expensive, Damage to Your HVAC System
Preventive maintenance helps reduce the risk of expensive problems developing later. If your system is not working properly now, there’s a good chance it will stop working altogether if you let it go too long without proper repairs and preventative care. Scheduled maintenance will help keep your system operating efficiently, so it won’t fail on you in the middle of a cold winter night!
Maintaining your HVAC system throughout the year is essential to ensuring it works properly when you need it most. It’s far better to have a small problem corrected now than face a much larger problem during winter. Don’t let the heating season sneak up on you.