Why Should You Invest in Preventative HVAC Maintenance?

Keeping your home comfortable during Northwest Arkansas’ hot summers and crisp winters takes a lot out of your furnace and air conditioner. Because of that, regular preventative HVAC maintenance is essential to ensure your system runs efficiently without experiencing any breakdowns.

Keep Up Your System’s Efficiency

During normal use, your furnace and A/C system can develop a number of minor problems that may not noticeably affect performance, but can still reduce their efficiency. Dust buildup is a common efficiency-reducing problem. A layer of dust as thin as 1/16 inch on your heat exchanger can bring down your oil boiler’s efficiency by 10 percent. A similar layer of dust on your air conditioner’s evaporator coil can reduce your cooling system’s efficiency by as much as 22 percent.

Loose electrical connections, air pressure problems, a poorly lubricated fan motor or A/C compressor, an incorrect refrigerant charge and many other issues can also reduce your system’s efficiency. During annual inspections, your technician can spot and correct these problems to optimize your system’s efficiency. As a result, you’ll use less energy and enjoy lower bills.

Extend Your System’s Lifespan

Many of these energy efficiency problems can also put a strain on your system’s components, potentially causing them to fail. A fan motor that’s very dirty or insufficiently lubricated is at risk for burning out. Restricted airflow and incomplete fuel combustion can also crack your furnace’s heat exchanger, meaning you’ll need to buy a new furnace. Dust on your evaporator coil forces your A/C to run longer to cool your home, which can cause your compressor to wear out faster.

The money you invest in annual maintenance will pay off in money saved on both repairs and replacements. Preventative HVAC maintenance also protects your health and safety. A clean system doesn’t spread dust, pollen, mold spores and other air contaminants around your home. Additionally, a system that’s properly cared for is unlikely to cause a fire or a carbon monoxide leak.

To enlist an experienced professional’s help with your preventative HVAC maintenance, get in touch with Paschal Heat, Air & Geothermal in Northwest Arkansas.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Springdale, Arkansas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about preventative HVAC maintenance and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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