Before seasons change from fall to winter, it is important to get professional maintenance for your HVAC system. Transitioning from air conditioning to heating is not as simple as flipping a switch because it requires a professional to ensure the system runs efficiently throughout the colder months. This transition period is significant because it serves as a chance to have your heating system well-prepared for the upcoming demands. To ease the transition and avoid problems, professional maintenance by professionals like our team at Goettl's High Desert Mechanical is the key.
The Role of Professional HVAC Maintenance
The shift from cooling to heating comes with different demands on your home’s HVAC system. During summer, the operation of an air conditioning system is very demanding. The unit needs time to transition between air conditioning and heating. Unless you prepare it in advance, this transition can be a source of strain on your system.
Professional HVAC maintenance involves an inspection and service typically performed on your heating system by one of our professionals. We check all components, cleaning parts that may accumulate dirt and dust in the summer months, and make sure everything is ready for winter. A professional tune-up is excellent for extending the life of your heating system and ensuring it works optimally throughout winter.
The Benefits of a Pre-Season Tune-Up
Scheduling a professional HVAC tune-up before the heating season provides many benefits. Probably the most important benefit is improved system reliability. When one of our technicians comes for a tune-up, we can diagnose minor problems before they become significant and expensive problems. That kind of preventative care could help you avoid an unexpected breakdown during the coldest days of the year when your heating system is working full tilt.
Another benefit of pre-season tune-ups is energy efficiency. With a properly maintained system, your heating unit doesn’t have to work hard to ensure your home or business is warm. In other words, that would mean less input, less energy consumption, and saving you money on your utility bills.
Another advantage of professional tune-ups is enhanced air quality in your home. Over time, the HVAC system collects dust, dirt, and other dangerous contaminants. Once these contaminants enter your home, they circulate, worsening health conditions and reducing indoor air quality. A tune-up offers our technician time to clean the system, leaving the air quality within your home clean, safe, and fresh.
Heating System Tune-Ups
The professional tune-up of the heating system consists of checking and servicing vital parts. Here is what you can expect during this process:
Check Thermostat Calibration
Remember, the thermostat is like the control center for your heating and cooling system. Our experts make sure it’s set up correctly and working right. If it’s not working well, you could have trouble keeping your place at the right temperature, and you might notice your system turning on and off more often, which can make things uncomfortable and lead to higher energy bills.
Inspecting the Heat Exchanger
Your heating system has an important part called a heat exchanger, which transfers heat from the furnace to the blowing air. Over time, a heat exchanger may develop cracks, emitting carbon monoxide leaks, a serious health hazard. A tune-up involves checking the heat exchanger for damages and repairing defects to ensure the safe operation of the system.
Inspecting the Blower Motor and Belt
The blower motor and belt work together to ensure the proper and efficient distribution of warm air around your living space. If the blower motor fails, your system struggles to distribute air, which typically leads to cold spots and inefficiency.
Electrical Connections
Heating systems that do not work properly or at all may be caused by loose or corroded electrical connections. During a tune-up, our technicians tighten such connections and change otherwise ineffective wiring to prevent problems.
System Lubrication
Various moving parts in heating systems, like motors and bearings, need sufficient lubrication to help reduce friction and wear. They may as well cause the unit to overheat due to a lack of friction, which is sometimes an expensive repair. Our technicians grease the moving parts, ensuring the system runs smoothly and has a long life.
Air Filter Replacement
Air filters largely contribute to maintaining air quality in the house and running the HVAC system efficiently. If there are dirty or clogged filters, the airflow likely encounters resistance, demanding much more work from the system. This extra work translates into more energy consumption. If this is the case, we’ll notify the homeowner that the air filters must be replaced to improve the HVAC system’s performance. Homeowners must replace air filters every 30-60 days to keep a healthy airflow.
Why You Shouldn’t Wait Until Winter
It’s best not to neglect an appliance until winter, as it may lead to issues that are simple to avoid with a tune-up before the season. The heating months are especially busy for the HVAC industry since many clients have emergencies after their systems fail. In some cases, these rush times can also hinder the available options for scheduling an appointment for service, and you have to wait much longer for availability.
By scheduling a tune-up in advance of the cold weather, you can beat the rush and rest assured that your system is ready for winter demands. In addition, working on problems in their infancy helps prevent extra damage that can be costly in more ways than one, such as in hours of time, money, and nerves.
Risks of Failing to Maintain an HVAC System
Neglecting an HVAC system at the change of seasons can result in many risks, the most prominent of which is system failure. Without frequent maintenance, minor issues may arise without your knowledge and grow into major problems that could cause a breakdown in your home’s heating system. This can leave you without heat during especially cold days, which is definitely not what you want to happen.
Another risk is delayed maintenance, which reduces energy efficiency. A system that lacks maintenance requires much more effort to provide an equivalent level of comfort, which increases energy use and utility bills. Over time, this additional exertion limits system component life and, ultimately, the life of your HVAC system.
Peace of Mind Going into Winter
The greatest advantage attached to the professional maintenance of your HVAC system is the peace of mind. You will go to bed knowing that a trained technician, like the professionals at Goettl's High Desert Mechanical, inspected the system and corrected anything that wasn’t working correctly. This is reassuring when it’s cold, and your system is running tirelessly to keep your family warm. Regular maintenance also helps protect your investment in your HVAC system and maintain your heating unit’s warranty.
At Goettl's High Desert Mechanical in Camp Verde, AZ, we provide AC repair, installation, and heating maintenance services for homes in the area. Our friendly team also provides water heater, drain, and garbage disposal services. Contact Goettl's High Desert Mechanical for more information today!
