The greater Houston area, like many other large cities in the south, is dealing with more and more intense heat waves with each passing year.
When temperatures hit triple-digits and stay there, you need your AC unit like never before. The last thing you want is for it to break down, leaving you cooking in your own home. It’s not just about comfort when it comes to air conditioning; it’s also about indoor air quality and safety.
One way to ensure your AC will be ready for you when you need it most is to implement an HVAC maintenance plan. In today’s post, we’ll tell you some of the benefits of preventative HVAC maintenance for your Conroe home.
A little bit of work now can save you a lot of hassle down the road. Keep reading and learn why you should perform DIY maintenance and enlist Conroe, TX, HVAC services to keep your AC unit functioning in the heat.
Keep Energy Bills Down
One of the biggest benefits of routine HVAC maintenance is that it’ll save you money on your energy bills. Every HVAC system goes through wear and tear when it gets a lot of use. You’ll never use your AC unit more than during these hot summer months in Conroe.
If you allow the wear and tear to progress into actual mechanical issues, your unit won’t work as efficiently and it’ll cost you money. To keep your system working at a high level, you need to clean it regularly.
Something too many homeowners overlook is the air filter. These take a few minutes to change and only cost $10 at a hardware store. They filter our contaminants and allergens from your home but can become clogged over time.
When this happens, your system will push harder to get your home to the desired temperature. Just like with mechanical issues, this will increase your energy bills and put wear and tear on your system.
Prolong Your HVAC System’s Lifespan
An HVAC system should last between 15-20 years with proper maintenance. If you don’t take care of cleaning, filter changes, and other bits of maintenance, it’ll gradually shorten your system’s lifespan. On average, HVAC replacement costs between $5,000-$10,000 depending on size and components.
An HVAC maintenance plan doesn’t need to be an intensive or time-consuming process. Giving your system the right amount of care should allow it to live out a full lifespan.
Protect Your HVAC Warranty
When you care for your HVAC system, you’ll protect your manufacturer’s warranty. This may cover the cost of replacing certain parts when your system breaks down through no fault of your own.
If you’ve shown that you’ve neglected to maintain your HVAC system, however, you could nullify your warranty. Many HVAC manufacturers require you to perform basic annual maintenance on your system to avoid unnecessary breakdowns.
HVAC Cost Savings and Preventative Maintenace
DIY maintenance can help you prevent unnecessary repairs. For example, by keeping the condenser unit — the part of your HVAC system that’s outside the home — clear of debris, you can prevent damage that branches and leaves tend to cause.
We’ve already discussed changing air filters, but the same issues occur when you fail to clean your ducts. Seasonal duct cleaning can allow air to flow freely and your AC unit to function without straining.
The condensate drain line takes the condensation that comes off of the evaporator coil and brings it outside. Occasionally, dirt and debris can clog the drain line up, causing the drain pan to overflow, which can leave you with water damage. Cleaning this with a wire brush and a homemade solution can prevent this from happening.
All of these things should be included in your maintenance plan. They’ll keep your system running efficiently and prevent major problems.
Preserve Indoor Air Quality
Americans spend about 90% of their time inside, especially during the sweltering heat. A regular HVAC maintenance plan will help to preserve indoor air quality and help you prevent the health effects of bad air quality.
For example, if you fail to change air filters and/or clean ducts, contaminants will enter your home. Those with allergies or existing health issues will suffer greatly, and even perfectly healthy individuals could experience health effects. Long-term exposure to bad air quality can result in respiratory problems and heart disease, among other things.
Maintain HVAC System Efficiency
At the beginning of the post, we discussed energy efficiency as it pertains to savings. Energy efficiency is also important for your carbon footprint.
The cruel reality of air conditioning is that it contributes to our carbon emissions the more we use it. But we need to use it to stay safe in the extreme heat.
All we can do is help our HVAC systems run as efficiently as possible. Creating a maintenance plan will ensure your system operates optimally to keep your emissions at a reasonable level.
Comfort and Peace of Mind
When you neglect HVAC maintenance, your system will gradually start to drop in performance. A drop in performance means a lack of comfort in your home when there are extreme temperatures outside. If you don’t want to be sweating inside your home, stay on top of your maintenance.
Doing so will give you the peace of mind you need when the hot weather arrives each year. When the weather starts changing in the spring, you never want to be unsure of whether your AC unit is going to work or not. Do your due diligence and you’ll be confident that it can keep you comfortable and safe whenever you turn it on.
A Professional HVAC Maintenance Plan
DIY HVAC maintenance plan is integral to the health of your HVAC system, but it can’t be the only thing you do. Hiring a professional HVAC technician to inspect and service your HVAC system is the best way to ensure you experience all of these benefits and more.
Guy’s AC has been helping Conroe residents look after their heating and cooling since 1974. We service all makes and models of HVAC machinery and build trusting relationships with all of our customers. Contact us today to learn more about our affordable HVAC plans and how they can help your system.
