The Difference Between HVAC Seasonal Tune-Up and Preventative Maintenance
April 2, 2020
As warmer weather approaches, your HVAC system needs to be prepared for the long hot days ahead to keep your home cool and comfortable. Preventative maintenance and seasonal tune-ups are essential to keeping your HVAC system running efficiently.
Preventative maintenance and seasonal tune-ups are two separate and different types of maintenance tools used by professionals, so it's important to understand the difference and importance of each type.
Preventative Maintenance
Preventative maintenance is usually performed on a monthly or regular basis. A seasonal tune-up is performed twice per year in spring and fall. Preventative maintenance generally includes the following:
- Checking for oil leaks
- Shaft bearings and motor lubrication if required
- Checking for any unusual vibrations or noise
- Inspecting the thermostat
- Inspecting the compressor and checking operation pressures
- Servicing of the electric heat strips
- Inspecting all the wiring and electrical components and connections
- Cleaning the condenser coil
- Checking and evaluating all fan motors and compressors
- Testing and inspection of safety controls
Seasonal Tune-Up
During an HVAC seasonal tune-up, our technicians prepare your system for the change in weather from colder weather to warmer weather and warmer to colder by performing the following procedures:
- Inspection of contacts, relays, wiring, and capacitors
- Making sure that the condensate drain is clear and free-flowing
- Checking if the evaporator coil is clean
- Cleaning the condenser if necessary
- Lubricating condenser fan motors and making sure blades are in good condition
- Checking the compressor amp on startup
- The Importance of Preventative Maintenance
Keeping your heating and cooling system regularly maintained is crucial to its performance and maintaining lower energy bills. While it may seem to be more cost-effective to skip the cost of preventative maintenance, it's the last thing you should do if you're looking to save money on heating and cooling. Preventative measures keep your system running its best. Just as you would keep your car maintained to prevent future more costly repairs, the same is true for your heating and cooling system.
How Seasonal HVAC Tune-ups can Save you Money
Seasonal tune-ups help to keep your HVAC system in peak condition as it ages. By recognizing and repairing aging parts caused by regular wear and tear, our professional technicians help to prevent breakdowns before they occur, which will save money on more expensive repairs. Seasonal tune-ups also keep your system working its best, which can help to lower your energy bills because your cooling system isn't working harder to cool your home.
Proper HVAC Maintenance Equals Better Health
A perfectly operating HVAC system means cleaner and better air quality. Proper maintenance and care of your HVAC system mean better health for people with asthma, allergies, and other respiratory ailments. Not only does better health equal more comfort, it means less money spent on medications and visits to the doctor's office.
If you feel your HVAC system isn't performing as it should, then call us and schedule an appointment for a seasonal tune-up, maintenance, or an evaluation of your HVAC system and its performance.