By Sam Wasson
Updated Dec 8, 2022
By Sam Wasson
Updated Dec 8, 2022
For homeowners, there are few sounds worse than the telltale grinding of an HVAC system’s motor, as it’s the first sign of upcoming discomfort. If not taken care of, your home may become a sauna or icebox in short order after the grinding begins. Unfortunately, this is common with HVAC systems, as they have a reputation for breaking down when you need them the most. As one part begins to fail, it can quickly affect the whole system, leading to a complete shutdown at the height of the season.
We’ll help you avoid this extreme household discomfort by looking at the importance of preseason HVAC tune-ups. By scheduling a checkup for your air conditioning and/or heating system just a month or two before the weather turns extreme, technicians can catch faulty parts in time, replace them, and save you weeks of abject misery.
HVAC tune-ups are preventative maintenance checks that ensure your system can handle the increased workload of the summer heat or winter chill. A technician will come to your home, comprehensively inspect all the major components of your HVAC system, and perform routine maintenance. If there are major faults or damaged components, the technician may be able to fix the problem then and there. Often, however, they will schedule a future appointment while they wait for the right parts.
A typical HVAC tune-up includes:
The best time for a tune-up is during fall or spring. If you schedule your tune-up during the off-season, your wait times will be much shorter. During the height of summer and winter, HVAC technicians are the busiest, and wait times are much longer. Furthermore, when scheduling during a milder climate — if you have to wait — you’ll be much more comfortable in the meantime. Wait times for parts may take days to weeks, all the while your system may be out of commission or at reduced functionality. The pleasant spring and fall weather will be easier to deal with than the sweltering heat of the summer or the bitter chill of winter.
You don’t want to wait until the signs of a failing HVAC show, and even newer systems can need a good cleaning and refrigerant refill. Because of this, you always want to schedule an HVAC tune-up once per year, especially if you experienced a season of extreme temperatures that would have forced your unit to work overtime.
Getting your HVAC system repaired has many benefits, including:
One of the major benefits of home warranties is that they cover repairs and maintenance for standard wear and tear of many home systems. As such, HVAC tune-ups align with the coverage of most home warranties. What is covered in the tune-up will depend on your company, policy, and add-ons, as each company has different policy requirements, part cost caps, and coverage ranges. Thankfully, most home warranties cover HVAC systems and provide valuable routine maintenance, repairs, upkeep, and tune-ups.
While we recommend getting a tune-up before things go wrong, there are some common warning signs that your system might need a tune-up or repair. You should contact an HVAC professional if you experience any of the following:
Heating and cooling systems are essential for enjoying your home. Without them, your home’s temperature, humidity, and overall livability drop drastically. Unfortunately, during peak times throughout the year, when we need it the most, is when an HVAC system is most likely to break. What’s worse, due to the high demand, HVAC maintenance services have extended wait times, resulting in you potentially waiting weeks until your AC or heating unit can be fixed. To help prevent this and avoid turning your house into an oven, you should try to schedule an annual maintenance tune-up during the spring or fall.
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