As an HVAC pro, you’ve certainly been called to service HVAC units that have run into snags – and outright failures – because of the lack of regular maintenance.
In this month’s Tech Tip, we’re looking at the reasons why residential customers should call you to regularly maintain their HVAC units, rather than wait until there’s a big problem to fix. As with most things dealing with maintenance, a little effort upfront prevents big headaches down the line.
Here are some of the benefits of regular HVAC maintenance that you can pass on to your customers.
Prevent unexpected downtime. Yes, scheduled HVAC maintenance might mean a few hours or more of downtime while the tech works on the unit. That is infinitely preferable to the AC going out when the outside temperature is flirting with 100 degrees. Scheduling that downtime is the key!
Save money on energy bills. An HVAC unit that isn’t running efficiently has to work harder to keep a home comfortable. Reduced efficiency can (and does!) happen if internal parts accumulate dirt or dust, if they’re showing signs of wear and tear, if belts are coming to the end of their life, or many other variables and issues. That’s going to mean higher energy bills than if it was working at peak efficiency.
Guard against safety issues. When a qualified pro does a “tune up” of an HVAC system, he or she can spot issues like frayed cords, carbon monoxide leaks and more that can lead to extremely serious problems.
Meet warranty requirements. Some newer HVAC units require regular maintenance, but your customers may not know it. The last thing homeowners want is to have a problem down the line and find out their warranty was voided because they didn’t have a regular HVAC check up.
Improve indoor air quality. Think of it: all the air in a home is coming through its HVAC system. Dust, pollen, and many other allergens can accumulate inside the system and in turn, get circulated through the house. On the other side of that coin, many HVAC systems can pull dirt particles, pet dander, pollen and other airborne nastiness out of the air via a filtering system. Either way, if it’s clogged, the air in the home isn’t going to be as clean as it should be. This is a critical issue for people with any type of breathing problem.
Longer unit life. A direct analogy here is maintaining your car. Regular oil changes and tune ups mean the car is going to live longer. It’s the same for HVAC systems. It’s running efficiently, it’s not going to experience the excessive wear and tear that can put a strain on the system.
