Ignoring HVAC Maintenance? These Could Be the Consequences

Unfortunately, a lot of homeowners let things slide when it comes to maintenance on their home’s cooling and heating systems. While you’re free to do so, you should be aware of the consequences of ignoring HVAC maintenance. It could cost you in lost comfort, higher energy bills, more repairs, a shorter service life, eroded indoor air quality, and threats to the safety of your household.

Higher Energy Bills

When HVAC equipment isn’t cleaned, tuned up and serviced, the moving parts will experience more friction during operation and over time will deteriorate and fail. Furnace burners will get dirty, and fuel won’t combust as cleanly. In air conditioners, refrigerant coils will get coated in grime, impeding heat exchange. Air filters will get clogged, and airflow will be compromised. These consequences and more will force the equipment to work harder and use more energy. Your bills will rise.

Reduced Comfort

Comfort also will be adversely affected. A poorly maintained system will struggle to cool or heat your home evenly. If ducts haven’t been properly maintained and sealed, much of the conditioned air may be lost before it arrives at its destination in your home.

More Repairs and a Shorter Service Life

When HVAC components aren’t kept clean and lubricated, parts will fail sooner, resulting in more frequent repairs. The same applies when an A/C or furnace has to work longer and harder to overcome issues related to inadequate maintenance. Your system will hit the wall years earlier than it should.

Eroded Air Quality and Safety Hazards

When an HVAC system isn’t properly maintained, air filtration can suffer, leaky ducts can allow dirty air entry into household air, and fuel won’t combust cleanly in a furnace or boiler. If a furnace isn’t regularly maintained, there’s nobody to notice if a heat exchanger, for example, becomes cracked, or venting pipes have become loose or dislodged. Carbon monoxide and other toxic gases have a greater chance of contaminating household air.

To avoid the consequences of ignoring HVAC maintenance in your Northwest Arkansas home, please contact us at Paschal Heat, Air & Geothermal.

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 HVAC maintenance and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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