Benjamin Franklin said it best; “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Even if you don’t suspect any problems, maintaining your heating and cooling equipment will cost far less than ignoring it and having to deal with the cost and hassle of emergency repairs, whether it is either freezing cold outside or in the dog days of summer.
As your AC or heating system runs, it accumulates dust and grime in critical areas that affect its efficiency, areas like the condensing coils and air filters. Without proper and regular maintenance, it can lose up to 5% of its operating efficiency each year due to the buildup. This lowers the capabilities of your equipment to cool or heat your house as it could if it were clean.
The recommendation for having regular maintenance to your equipment is twice a year. Once in the Spring, to check the cooling equipment, and once in the Fall, to check your heating system. Getting ready in the Spring to make sure your AC is in prime condition by having it inspected, serviced and cleaned is the best way to ensure that no emergencies arise just when you need your AC the most. It is recommended to have a service professional come to your home when it is not the peak season so that he will be able to take the time to inspect your equipment thoroughly. Likewise, if you have a separate unit for heating, have maintenance done in the early Fall, to ensure that it will be properly functioning and safety inspected for carbon monoxide leakage before placing it in operation.