If you have relatively new heating and cooling systems installed in your home, you’ll want to ensure that they last as long as possible. To guarantee that your systems remain reliable for a long time, it’s crucial to have them serviced every year.

Similar to your car, your HVAC system needs routine maintenance to function properly and avoid costly repairs. Routine HVAC maintenance services are designed to protect your system from unforeseen problems that may arise in the future.

What Is HVAC Maintenance?

During an HVAC inspection and maintenance, certified technicians will examine your heating and cooling systems to find and fix any issues within the units. However, maintenance is not as comprehensive as repairs. Instead, it is focused on tuning up your machines to ensure that they’re running smoothly throughout the entire year.

For instance, if your air conditioner needs repairs, a technician may replace one specific component, which takes more time and money. During standard maintenance, a technician will typically follow an HVAC maintenance checklist and will perform various tasks, such as:

• Inspection
• Cleaning
• Lubricating
• Testing
• Tightening

This then helps your HVAC system to run more efficiently, lowering your costs in the long run.

Benefits of HVAC Maintenance

There are many benefits of HVAC maintenance, including:

• Increased Energy Efficiency: Regular maintenance ensures that HVAC systems operate at proper efficiency, reducing energy consumption and lowering utility bills.
• Extended Equipment Lifespan: Proper maintenance helps prevent premature wear and tear, prolonging the life expectancy of HVAC components and reducing the need for costly replacements.
• Improved Indoor Air Quality: Cleaning and servicing HVAC systems remove contaminants such as dust, pollen, mold, and bacteria, promoting healthier indoor air and reducing allergy symptoms.
• Enhanced Comfort: Well-maintained HVAC systems provide consistent heating and cooling throughout indoor spaces, ensuring optimal comfort for occupants year-round.
• Reduced Likelihood of Breakdowns: Scheduled maintenance service helps detect and address any issues before they become major problems. This lowers the risk of unexpected breakdowns and costly repairs in the future.
• Compliance with Warranties: Many HVAC manufacturers require regular maintenance to keep warranties valid. Adhering to maintenance schedules ensures that warranty coverage remains intact.

Heating System Maintenance Checklist

A properly functioning heating system maximizes comfort and saves energy and money. It’s ideal to hire certified technicians who are trained to handle various types of heating systems, like furnaces, heat pumps, and more. 

It’s best to schedule your heating system maintenance once a year at the end of summer. This is the best time to service it so that it is ready to run during fall and winter.

No matter what type of furnace you have, it’s important to keep it clean. During a heating maintenance service, a skilled technician will inspect and address all of the following components: 

• Heat exchanger
• Ductwork
• Air filters
• Burners
• Fan switch
• Pilot and pilot assembly
• Safety controls
• Fuel connections

If you require heat pump maintenance, a technician will complete the following tasks:

• Inspect ductwork
• Inspect and replace or clean air filters
• Inspect the blower
• Inspect and clean indoor and outdoor coils
• Lubricate motors
• Tighten belts as needed

Air Conditioner Maintenance Checklist

An air conditioning system is a significant investment in your home and is one of the best ways to provide whole-home comfort for you and your family. You can expect an air conditioner to have an average lifespan of approximately 15 to 20 years; however, with regular tune-ups and maintenance, your air conditioning unit can last well beyond 20 years.

It’s best to perform air maintenance at the end of winter before the cooling season starts, when you’ll rely on your system the most.

Your air conditioner is a complicated machine with hundreds of moving parts. During a standard cooling maintenance inspection, a technician will:

• Lubricate and tighten necessary parts and connections
• Clean or replace air filters as needed
• Inspect and test major AC components, such as:
  • Blower motor
  • Indoor and outdoor coils
  • Compressor
  • Condenser
  • Evaporator
  • Thermostat
• Check for refrigerant leaks
• Check for fluid leakage indoors

Sign Up for an HVAC Maintenance Agreement

One of the best ways to protect the HVAC system in your home is with an HVAC maintenance plan. If you decide to sign up for GAC Services’s prime maintenance plan, you’ll reap many benefits, including:

• 20% Off Repairs: If your HVAC system breaks down, you’ll receive 20 percent off the repair.
• Priority Service: Your calls automatically move to the top of our service list.
• Seasonal Tune-Ups: We will tune up your HVAC system to ensure it operates at maximum efficiency and reduce the chance of mid-season breakdowns.
• Reduced Diagnostic Fee: Maintenance agreement customers receive a reduced diagnostic fee.
• 10% Off Electrical Services: Members can take advantage of our experienced electricians at a discounted rate.

GAC Services is dedicated to helping your family remain comfortable and safe all year long. No matter what system needs to be inspected, trust our certified technicians to carefully complete the task.

Contact us to sign up for our prime maintenance membership today!