Debbie’s back with some great tips on how you can increase the value of your home with a simple maintenance plan for your HVAC system.
HVAC
Set Up a Maintenance Plan
There are millions of things you want to do when you buy a new home. From installing new cabinets, to ripping down the terrible wallpaper put up by the person before you, the list goes on. However, before you can do any of the cosmetic improvements, you should call an HVAC company to check on your heating and cooling systems.
No One Expects the AC to Break
For most of the year, your HVAC system works to keep the home comfortable, but these systems always seem to break unexpectedly and at the worst times. Your state or city might experience a heat wave, or a snowstorm might come through, forcing your home to match the outside temperature. But, the comfort of your home could be at risk if your air conditioning and heating system has completely crashed.
Even if your home inspector said your system is performing well, it’s important to build a working relationship with your local HVAC company to check on hardware, and set up a maintenance plan. These technicians will build a deep understanding of your system model and its current state, creating a plan to keep it running longer. Give your system a thorough maintenance in the Fall to avoid freezing through the winter.
Aging Systems Need More Repair
Like people and cars, the older an HVAC system gets, the more things tend to break. The good news is that not all of these problems are expensive. A hose might pop out, or a drain might get clogged, which shuts down the whole system until it can be cleaned.
Routine maintenance can make sure all of these smaller fixes are made so that you only have to call your HVAC company when something major strikes. This will save you money in the long run, as your regular checkups are cheaper than emergency calls at 3 a.m.
Start Building Your HVAC Maintenance History Today
In the long run, maintaining a relationship with an HVAC technician or company can translate into better service when something breaks. When the same technician is used to check on your components multiple times per year, he or she starts to understand what is starting to wear and what problems you tend to have. For example, your technician might notice a worn hose but leave it because it’s still functioning. When your system breaks, that’s the first place the technician will check for problems.
Building a history of maintenance for your HVAC systems can also help your resale value if you decide to move. Keeping a record of maintenance for all of your major appliances proves to potential homeowners and inspectors that they’re not making a bad choice when they purchase your home. There’s nothing worse than buying a house and having to replace the washer, refrigerator, and plumbing. Highlight the quality of your home with maintenance receipts.
Setting up appointments and meeting with a local HVAC company only takes a few hours each year, but these routine checkups can save you hundreds in repair costs and prevent your system from breaking during the next several years.
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~Lorelai
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My dad had to replace his old HVAC recently and it came with a maintenance plan. Now that he’s older, I’m so glad that he gets it checked out on a regular basis. It’s one less thing I have to be concerned about. Great tips!
We just replaced our unit this spring. It has saved us hundreds on our energy bill already! Our unit was 16 years old so it was time. We did do the maintenance through the years but age got the best of it! We will definitely be doing the maintenance on the new one too!
I think it is important to have your local HVAC company come out before it gets too hot out and take a look at your HVAC unit. They will check to see how it is functioning, if it needs more freon, if there are any leaks, etc. and can even clean it up a bit if it needs it. This is best so there will be less chance of you having problems when you really need your air the most. Great information, thanks for sharing!
Thank you for these fantastic tips. As you said, aging systems need more repair. I have an old unit, and I was looking to replace it. I will try implementing this maintenance system. Thanks again!
Awesome post, definitely some great advice! You are certainly right about wanting to keep good maintenance on your HVAC systems! Thanks for sharing!
Buying an AC is not a huge matter, the main thing is to repair that. I have been suffered many times for this.
Wow, I didn’t even think of recording maintenance history of my HVAC system. That way it can be easier to see if services and repairs are still under warranty. My husband and I have a tendency to forget warranties, and having them recorded will help keep us honest when we call for a repair. Thanks for the advice!
That’s a good point that regular visits from a technician builds a working relationship. This will keep your technician familiar with the unique traits of your system. Also, it allows you to be aware of little HVAC problems before they become catastrophic failures.
My husband and I just bought our first home a few months ago. We haven’t had to turn the furnace on yet, but we’re getting pretty close to winter. I think I may feel better having a professional come out and check to make sure everything works fine. I really like your tip about building a history of maintenance and even trying to have the same technician come out to work on your HVAC unit. It was also nice to read that a routine checkup can save you money in the long run.
Regular maintenance on your system will prolong the life of your air conditioning unit by preventing major breakdowns. Checking the system for any wear on the pump, belts and other parts allows you to keep the system running at peak performance.
That is cool. Thanks for sharing. Maintaining a good air conditioning system is really important. It will make it lasts longer and safer and cheaper. So come and check us out for you air conditioning service needed.