6 Signs HVAC Maintenance is Worth It

HVAC Maintenance Question!

If an HVAC system is newer and running fine, why do manufacturers and technicians insist that money be spent on annual inspection and cleaning? What happens to a system that isn’t properly maintained? A system without regular HVAC maintenance will experience these issues.

1. The air filter will clog. Indoor air carries abundant quantities of airborne particles unseen by the naked eye. With every heating or cooling cycle, an air filter collects most of these particles, cleaning the air as it was designed. However, when the filter becomes completely clogged, it reduces the airflow significantly.

During the summertime, warm air moves into the evaporator chamber, is cooled, and loses humidity. The cool air is pushed into the home. When the airflow is restricted, the warm air does not flow into the chamber.

The chamber is too cold, allowing condensation to freeze on the coil. Alas, the air in the home remains warm. The stress on the air conditioning system is extreme.

During the wintertime, cold air from the home moves into the heat exchange chamber and is warmed. Restricted airflow keeps the home cold and stresses the entire system.

1. The condenser coil will clog. The outdoor unit contains a compressor and condenser coil. The coil functions to transfer heat into or out of the home, depending on the season, as air flows through the fins and coils of tubes of the condenser. Dust, leaves, and lawn clippings can collect on the exterior of the coil (like dust on the air filter). If the condenser coil clogs, the entire unit will heat up and cause catastrophic failure.
2. Stress will create failures. The lack of maintenance has already created extreme stress on the electrical controls and switches. When electronic parts fail, it may require a service call for repairs. If not, the stress continues and spreads to adjacent parts. The cost of multiple repairs will mount.
3. The system loses efficiency. With airflow restrictions, control stresses mounting, and components getting either too hot or too cold, the whole system requires more energy to function properly. The increased energy use will cost more money, so expect the utility bill to increase significantly.
4. Loss of comfort. While the electronics and mechanical features are experiencing these stresses and loss of airflow, poor performance is felt within the home. The system will find it difficult to maintain a pleasant 72⁰ and 40 to 60% relative humidity—the level of comfort your family is expecting. Lack of maintenance will make it difficult to heat or cold the home. In the summertime, expect the humidity inside the home to be closer to that of outside air. It is not uncommon to experience stale or musty odors when the humidity remains high. Furniture, wall and flooring surfaces, and even skin may feel moist or sticky.
5. An early demise. The average useful life of an HVAC system is about 15 to 20 years. Excellent maintenance often adds 5 years or more of useful, efficient service life. Regular maintenance lengthens the years between system replacements.

The Department of Energy, HVAC manufacturers, and the service technicians who service heating and air conditioning systems all agree that regular maintenance is essential. The experiences of countless homeowners also contribute to this argument, both positively and negatively. HVAC Maintenance should include:

• An annual inspection and cleaning of the whole system.
• Changing the air filter at least every three months.
• Washing the condenser unit with a garden hose at least once per year.

Need HVAC Maintenance, Call Us Today!

Contact our HVAC Maintenance team at Doctor Cool & Professor Heat today at 281-338-8751 or email Doctor Cool and let our professional Residential HVAC Repair technicians assist with all of your new HVAC Maintenance questions.