We often associate the summer season with cookouts, water park visits and other forms of outdoor recreation with friends and family. However, this time of year also means relying on your air conditioning system for indoor comfort. The furnace or any heating equipment you have at home may be the last thing on your mind, but that doesn’t mean you should ignore it over the next few months.
As the leading heating and air conditioning repair contractor in the area, we recommend having your heating unit inspected and serviced this summer. Read on as we discuss further.
Reasons to Invest in Heating Maintenance This Summer
The following are some of the best reasons for investing in heating repairs and maintenance this summer:
Improved efficiency and comfort. The deterioration of your heating system begins when you use it for the first time. Over time, its moving parts force the unit to work harder than it should. Without the benefit of regular maintenance, it would require frequent but costly repairs and will have a shortened lifespan.
By keeping your investment in good condition, you can be sure that it’s working efficiently and optimally. By scheduling an inspection this summer, you can rest easy knowing you and your family will be warm and cozy throughout the colder months.
Preparation for winter. As homeowners, we often take our HVAC system for granted. We turn it on and expect it to provide consistent heating or cooling. The only time we pay attention to it is when it breaks down all of a sudden, necessitating sending a service request to your local contractor.
If this occurs during winter, however, your house can get cold fast. Along with getting the shivers, a lack of heating inside your home can also cause a slew of problems, including frozen pipes and water lines. You don’t want any of these things to happen, which is why it would be in your best interest to have your heating system inspected and serviced as early as this summer.
Potential heating system replacement. In a typical summer HVAC inspection, a certified technician will check every component of your heating system, including its electrical connections. They’ll then perform repairs to solve any issues, but only if the unit is fairly new or is far from reaching the end of its lifespan.
If they do find signs of wear and tear that are too extensive or severe to repair, they may recommend replacing your system entirely. The great thing about this is that you’ll have time to save up for the furnace installation. Through early detection, you’ll be better prepared.
Off-season for HVAC contractors. Many homeowners choose to wait until late fall or even early winter before having their heating systems inspected and repaired. Most HVAC contractors, however, are usually busy during this time. It can take days or even weeks before the pros pick up your service request. By then, outdoor temperatures will have dropped, and if your equipment isn’t working properly, you may have to go several days without much-needed warmth and comfort.
When you call in the summer for a heating inspection, however, you’re much more likely to be scheduled right away. After all, everyone will be requesting AC installations and repairs over the next few months. Also, manufacturer incentives are often offered in the summer, which means that you might get a good deal for new equipment.
Convenient time for ductwork inspection and cleaning. Another advantage of heating system maintenance this summer is the convenience of inspecting and cleaning your home’s air ducts. The equipment isn’t in use, which means the HVAC technician can get a better look inside the ductwork and check if it’s dirty or showing signs of leaks. This is easier than scheduling it in the middle of winter when your heating won’t be available while the inspection is in progress.
Having your ductwork inspected, cleaned and repaired has its benefits. It improves indoor air quality and prevents respiratory issues caused by excess dust and debris circulating in your home. Fixing issues in your air ducts helps ensure the proper functioning of the heating system. When warm air isn’t leaking out, the unit doesn’t have to work as hard to maintain the desired indoor temperatures.
Keeping Your Heating System in Great Shape
Preparing your heating system for the winter months involves more than just scheduling a tune-up with your HVAC contractor this summer. Given how essential this equipment is in meeting your home’s comfort needs, knowing how to keep it in great shape is imperative to ensuring it runs safely and efficiently. Here are some tips to keep in mind:
Change the air Filter. ENERGY STAR® recommends checking the air filter of your heating equipment and replacing it with a new one if it looks dirty. Dirty filters slow down airflow, reducing the unit’s efficiency during operation. If not addressed immediately, the unit may start turning on and off frequently within too short an interval, preventing it from working efficiently. Change the air filter once every three months. However, you may have to do so as often as once a month, depending on if you have pets at home or if one or more family members have allergies.
Keep vents and registers clean. Remove vents covers from the floors, walls and ceiling around your house before turning on your heating equipment in the fall or winter. Check if dust, pet dander or any form of debris has collected on the covers and remove it right away using a vacuum cleaner. By doing so, you’ll decrease the strain on your heating system.
Keep the heating system clean. Clean around your furnace or heating equipment regularly, sweeping away dust and debris. Make sure you don’t use the area around the unit for storing items, always maintaining a clearance of at least three feet. In addition to this being a safety measure, it also helps ensure proper air circulation in and around the furnace.
If you need heating service, Bill Reynolds Heating & Air Conditioning is the contractor to call! We offer furnace, boiler, heat pump and ductless mini-split installation, repair and maintenance. As soon as you become aware of an issue, give us a call and we can come to your home and determine its source. We only select the best technicians to be part of our team, which means that they’re extremely knowledgeable, experienced and ready to tackle your HVAC problem.
We’re committed to providing you with the right HVAC solutions for your home and budget. Call us at (440) 946-7863 or fill out our contact form to request a quote.
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