When spring arrives, it’s time to schedule the annual maintenance for the air conditioning system. This is the best way to prepare the AC for the hard work it will perform over the summer keeping the family cool and comfortable. Every HVAC contractor recommends maintenance for air conditioners in spring, and the company has its own HVAC maintenance program to help make this job easier for the customers.
“Is this really that important?” some people ask when told about maintenance. The answer is yes. There are many reasons why HVAC maintenance is done twice annually (the AC in spring, the heater in fall) is vital. Below is listed the five biggest benefits of having maintenance.
One: Fewer repairs for the AC
Although nothing can stop all possible repair problems an air conditioner may face over its service life, maintenance can stop the majority. Studies have shown that more than 50% of air conditioning repairs are the fault of lack of maintenance. If the AC has maintenance each year, that means more than 50% of potential repair issues just vanish. One doesn’t need to pay for them, one doesn’t need to deal with their inconvenience. Gone—never existed. It’s not magic, it’s just maintenance.
Two: Longer system life
The average central air conditioning system can last from 10 to 15 years with maintenance
The average central air conditioning system can last from 10 to 15 years with maintenance. Without maintenance, the system will wear down faster and will need to be replaced earlier. How much earlier depends on how much maintenance is neglected. With no maintenance, an AC may only last 5 to 8 years.
Three: Superior energy efficiency
The AC has an energy efficiency rating called SEER, which is the maximum efficiency the system can achieve. Maintenance protects an AC’s efficiency rating and can allow it to keep 95% of its SEER rating through most of its lifetime, only declining in the last one or two years before it needs to be replaced. Without maintenance, the AC will lose 5% of its SEER rating per year, and that will lead to much higher energy bills.
Four: Reliable performance
One never wants the AC to shut down when one needs it. Unfortunately, one takes a big risk that this will happen during the summer if one neglects to have the unit maintained in spring. The strain is more likely to cause it to fail on one of the hottest days of the year, forcing it to scramble for repairs. Maintenance provides peace of mind.
Five: Keep the warranty in force
Does one know that most manufacturers’ warranties for ACs are only good if the units receive regular maintenance from professionals? It’s true and one doesn’t want to lose this important consumer protection for the AC.