Do you ever wonder what is a good time to get your central heating and cooling serviced? Experts say that every year you should have your unit serviced, cleaned and inspected. But what is the best time to do this? The best time for servicing is in the spring. This makes sure that you will have air conditioning in the hot months ahead. It is important to do this because your unit will lose efficiency over time because of buildup.
If you have a heating and cooling company, ask them if they have preventative maintenance service contracts. This will save you money in the long run. These yearly tuneups will cost about $70-$120. Within this contract you get a new air filter as well as cleaning and tuning up your unit. This will save you money because your utility bills will be lower since the unit is more efficient and it will prevent having to buy a whole new unit. Problems can also be handled early on before they turn into bigger more expensive problems.
When signing up for a contract, make sure it includes checking to make sure there is a correct amount of refrigerant, testing for refrigerant leaks, capturing any leaking refrigerant and getting it out of the system safely, checking for duct leakage and sealing it in the central systems, measuring airflow through the coil, verifying the correct electric control sequence and making sure the systems cannot operate simultaneously, inspecting electric terminals, cleaning and tightening connections and applying a non-conductive coating, checking oil motors and belts for tightness and wear and checking the accuracy of the thermostat. The coolant level is one of the most important items on the list, and if you are low on coolant, operation costs go up. You also need to make sure that the company has licensed HVAC contractors and holds workers’ compensation and liability insurance to protect you if a technician is injured or you obtain property damage. You always need to check with multiple companies if expensive repairs are suggested or if they say you need a new system. If you have your system checked regularly, your unit should last 15 years and maintain 95% of its original efficiency.
Heating and cooling can much more costly if your system isn’t properly maintained. A seasoned and certified professional in good standing with the Better Business Bureau should be your best bet. Also ask others in your neighborhood and area for good referrals or check a website such as Angie’s List for company with a good reputation and solid ratings.