Don’t Skip Your AC or Furnace Tune-Up: Top 5 Benefits of Getting Your Tune-Up on Time
If you have a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, you probably rely on it all year round. In the winter, your HVAC system provides necessary heating to keep you warm and safe. In the summer, it provides cooling and removes humidity to prevent you from sweating and discomfort. Your system may also help during the transitional seasons of fall and spring.
While you may understand how valuable your HVAC system is, do you know how important it is to take care of it with regular AC or furnace tune-ups, or do you see it as an unnecessary expense? In reality, these routine maintenance services offer a range of benefits that extend beyond cost savings.
Don’t skip your AC or furnace tune-up. Here are the top 5 benefits of getting your tune-up on time from the experts at M&M Heating and Air.
What Is an HVAC Tune-Up?
An air conditioning and furnace tune-up, also known as an HVAC tune-up, refers to a comprehensive maintenance service provided by a professional HVAC technician to ensure that your system performs as it should, operates safely, and maintains its optimal efficiency.
While the specific tasks can vary between the air conditioning and furnace units, a typical tune-up involves a range of inspections, adjustments, and cleaning tasks. This is designed to identify and address potential issues, improve energy efficiency, and extend the lifespan of your HVAC system.
Here are some common tasks performed during an AC and furnace tune-up:
- Air filter inspection and replacement: Your technician will check the condition of your air filters and replace them if necessary. Clean filters are essential for maintaining good indoor air quality and preventing strain on the system.
- Thermostat calibration: The thermostat is calibrated to ensure accurate temperature readings and proper communication within the system. This maintains consistent comfort levels whether your system is operating for heating or cooling.
- Cleaning and inspection of coils: The evaporator and condenser coils in an air conditioning unit can build up dirt over time, harming the unit’s efficiency. Your technician will clean these coils to ensure optimal heat exchange and prevent energy waste.
- Checking refrigerant levels: Proper refrigerant levels are crucial for the efficient operation of an air conditioning unit. Technicians check for leaks and ensure that the refrigerant levels are within the manufacturer’s specifications and refill them as needed.
- Lubrication of moving parts: Lubricant is applied to moving parts like fan motors and bearings to reduce friction and prevent premature wear and tear. Your technician will lubricate the moving parts according to manufacturer specifications.
- Inspecting ductwork: Leaks or blockages in the ductwork can compromise the efficiency of both heating and cooling systems. Technicians can inspect the ducts for any issues that may impact your air flow.
- Inspecting and cleaning blower components: During inspection, the blower assembly is examined and its components are cleaned to ensure proper air flow.
- Checking gas connections: For furnaces, your technician will inspect and tighten the gas connections to prevent leaks, ensuring the safety of the system.
- Inspecting the heat exchanger: A cracked or damaged heat exchanger can pose safety risks. Your technician will inspect this component to identify any issues for your furnace.
- Testing safety controls: Various safety controls, including the pressure switch and limit switch, are tested to ensure they function correctly.
- Inspecting electrical connections: Your technician will check electrical connections and components to identify any loose or damaged parts that could lead to malfunctions or safety hazards.
- Checking overall system performance: The entire system is evaluated to ensure it operates efficiently, reliably, and safely.
Air conditioning and furnace tune-ups are typically recommended on an annual basis, ideally before the peak seasons when you’ll be using the systems the most. Regular maintenance is important for preventing unexpected breakdowns and improving energy savings, indoor air quality, and lifespan.
Top 5 Benefits of AC and Furnace Tune-Ups
Wondering what you can get out of an air conditioning and furnace tune-up? Here are the top 5 benefits:
1. Increased Energy Efficiency
One of the biggest benefits of scheduling regular tune-ups for your air conditioning and furnace is the improvement in energy efficiency. Over time, these systems may accumulate dust, debris, and other contaminants, harming their efficiency. A well-maintained HVAC system operates more effectively, reducing the workload on its components and reducing energy consumption.
During a tune-up, HVAC professionals clean and inspect components like the ductwork and air filters, removing buildup and ensuring all parts function optimally. This allows the system to deliver better performance, and in turn, reduces your energy usage.
2. Extended Lifespan
Regular tune-ups are important for extending the lifespan of your air conditioning and furnace. Like any mechanical system, HVAC units experience wear and tear over time, leading to potential breakdowns and expensive repairs. When you take a proactive approach, you can prevent small problems from becoming major malfunctions.
During the service, your technician will inspect and lubricate moving parts, tighten loose connections, and replace worn-out components. This significantly reduces the likelihood unexpected breakdowns, so you can be sure that your HVAC system is prepared for a long winter or summer. It also helps to keep your system running its best for its entire lifespan.
3. Improved Indoor Air Quality
The quality of indoor air is a crucial factor in keeping your home safe and healthy. Over time, dust, allergens, and mold can accumulate in HVAC systems, recirculating them into the air you breathe. During a tune-up, your technician will focus on cleaning and inspecting components that directly impact air quality.
Changing or cleaning air filters is a routine part of HVAC maintenance, helping to prevent the circulation of airborne particles throughout your home. Technicians also inspect the evaporator and condenser coils, ensuring they are free of dirt and mold. A clean and well-maintained HVAC system contributes to improved indoor air quality, reducing the risk of respiratory issues and creating a healthier living space for you and your family.
4. Consistent Comfort Levels
Getting air conditioning or furnace tune-ups helps to maintain consistent comfort levels in your home, whether heating or cooling. When your HVAC system operates efficiently, it can better regulate temperature and humidity, making your home stable and comfortable.
During a tune-up, your technician will calibrate the thermostat, check refrigerant levels, and inspect the overall functionality of your system. This ensures that your system is ready to meet the demands of changing weather conditions.
5. Cost Savings
While you may view regular HVAC tune-ups as an additional expense, they are a wise investment that can improve your cost savings in the long run. By addressing potential issues early on and ensuring the efficient operation of your system, you can avoid expensive repairs and premature replacements.
The improved energy efficiency from a well-maintained HVAC system also helps to keep your utility bills low. As the system operates more smoothly, it requires less energy to maintain your desired indoor temperature. In addition, the extended lifespan of your HVAC unit means that you can go longer before springing for a replacement.
How to Prepare for an HVAC Tune-Up
The purpose of getting professional HVAC tune-ups is to have an expert doing the work, but there are still some steps you can take to prepare for a service visit.
First, make sure you write down any questions or concerns you have with your system to address with the technician. For example, if you notice poor air flow or inconsistent temperatures, make sure you tell them so they can check it out. While these issues may come up during the inspection, it’s best to let your technician know ahead of time.
Secondly, make sure that your HVAC system is easy to access. Clear out any clutter around your units to ensure that the technician can get to the unit. For the outdoor unit, clear any debris like branches or leaves. You should also double check that your lights are all working properly and replace any bulbs as necessary.
While your technician is there, you may want to ask about maintenance tasks that you can perform on your own. A lot of jobs are best left to professionals, but you can take on small maintenance tasks like cleaning the air filter to keep your system running well between tune-ups. If you’re not sure how to do these tasks or what’s safe, your technician can show you.
Get Your HVAC System Ready for the Busy Seasons
Whether cooling in summer or heating in winter, scheduling regular HVAC tune-ups is a crucial task for keeping your system running its best. If you’ve been avoiding tune-ups because of the expense, remember that you benefit from better energy efficiency, system lifespan, indoor air quality, comfort levels, and long-term financial savings. Like any proactive measures, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
Don’t skip your AC or furnace tune-up! If your HVAC maintenance is overdue, contact us at M&M Heating and Air to schedule your appointment!
