HVAC Maintenance to Reduce Repairs and Breakdowns

With the beginning of Fall, everyone celebrates the relief from the intense heat of this last summer and welcomes cooler temperatures. However, it won’t be long before temps continue to drop, and this will begin the heating season for the next few months. Next, you remember how long it has been since the heating system was last used; it surely deserves a little loving care in the form of a preventative maintenance visit.

Many homeowners have ignored HVAC maintenance over many years and experienced unhappy results. Here is what a homeowner can expect from overlooking maintenance.

1. Expect indoor air quality to suffer. During winter months, we bundle up inside for warmth and keep the home buttoned up tight. While this increases comfort, it also concentrates airborne pollutants and compromises the health of occupants. The air filter needs to be changed regularly and the ventilation ducts cleaned as needed. Ignoring these maintenance tasks can lead to allergies and irritation of the nose, eyes, and throat of our family members.
2. The gas supply portion of the furnaces needs to be inspected and tested to ensure the safe use of natural gas in the home. If the gas supply was shut off during the summer months and is now turned on, an inspection is very advisable for safety reasons. The ignition system can be particularly troublesome, especially at the beginning of the heating season.
3. The exhaust system for a gas furnace needs to be inspected regularly to prevent infiltration of carbon monoxide into the home. This colorless, odorless gas is toxic and can lead to asphyxiation.
4. An unmaintained furnace will lose efficiency, resulting in less comfort; expect spaces furthest from the furnace to be uncomfortably cool.
5. An inefficient furnace results in higher energy bills and the bill continues to rise until efficiency is restored. When the system was new, achieving the desired comfort level was accomplished by a given amount of energy. An inefficient furnace attempts to achieve the same level of comfort, but the components work harder and use more energy. It might be difficult to determine how much of a rising energy bill is due to rising energy costs and how much is due to furnace inefficiency. Compare the units of measurement for energy—kWh for electricity and cf of natural gas—for comparable months last year.
6. The inefficiency of a furnace system is generally due to normal wear and tear; both electrical and mechanical components are stressed by the frequent “on/off” of both cooling and heating cycles. When wear creates stress on a small part, a cascade of stress travels to nearby components. While an HVAC maintenance visit should have uncovered the minor problem, eventually, this small problem becomes a large problem that requires a repair visit. An inexpensive visit becomes a more expensive bill.
7. The wear and tear of constant use over several years continues to stress a significant portion of the HVAC system. Whenever the cascade of stress reaches a major component, the cost of repairing or replacing the component becomes great enough that replacing the entire system becomes a wise financial decision. While system replacement is inevitable, the lack of maintenance cuts away several years of useful service.

Some homeowners delay or ignore regular HVAC maintenance for their system, thinking they are saving money. However, a little analysis reveals that maintenance improves comfort and safety while saving money with lower utility bills, lower repair costs, and longer service life.

If you have HVAC Maintenance Questions, R.M. Mullinix has the Answers

For more information about R.M. Mullinix and our HVAC Maintenance services, schedule an appointment, or visit our HVAC maintenance information page.