Bo Rogers has been in the heating and cooling industry for 21 years, starting in 2001 as a residential HVAC installer for Peachtree Service Experts in Atlanta, GA. Bo caught on quickly and after being promoted as a residential service technician he found his true calling as a residential comfort advisor, earning hundreds of satisfied customers and winning several Lennox & Amana Sales Awards. In 2016 Bo and his family moved to the Ashland area to be closer to family and he has spent the last 4 years as the area’s leading Comfort Advisor with Comfort Control. Bo’s personal mantra is to treat every customer like he would expect his family to be treated and he only recommends products and services a customer actually needs.
Sometimes the busyness of life gets the best of us, and we don’t address a problem until, well, it’s a problem. When it comes to your HVAC system, however, preventative maintenance won’t only save you money in costly repair and replacement bills, but your energy usage as well. Have you missed those maintenance milestones or still find yourself with an aging or less-than-ideal system? It’s never too late to bring comfort and efficiency back to your home with the help of an experienced HVAC professional.
Why is HVAC Maintenance Important?
Exactly how does regular maintenance save you money? Let’s take a look!
- Most manufacturers require routine maintenance in order to validate the warranty. Routine maintenance will protect you from major system repairs and maintain your manufacturer’s warranty, so if you do have a problem, you’ll still be covered.
- If the HVAC unit is not running properly it may be working too hard, resulting in inconsistent air temperatures and reduced comfort.
- Your heating and cooling system becomes less efficient and reliable as it accumulates dust and dirt throughout the year, which costs you money in increased utility and repair bills. In fact, as much as half of your energy used in your home goes to heating and cooling.
- When it’s properly maintained, you can add several years (3-5 years in some cases) to the life of your heating and air conditioning system, adding years of efficient use.
- A yearly inspection involves lubricating all moving parts. Parts that lack lubrication cause resistance in motors and increase the amount of electricity you use. This resistance can also cause equipment to wear out more quickly, requiring more frequent repairs or replacements.
- An inspection also includes the cleaning and adjusting of the blower components. Doing this helps to ensure proper airflow for greater comfort levels. Airflow problems can reduce your system’s efficiency by up to 15 percent.
How Old is Your Current System?
According to the Department of Energy, the average system lifespan for an air conditioner and furnace in the United States is 15-20 years. Some systems last longer, others shorter, depending on factors such as maintenance and quality of the original installation. However, the general rule is that if your system is over fifteen years old, it’s time to give the replacement option some serious consideration.
Is Your Air Conditioner Still Running on Freon?
On January 1, 2020, the refrigerant known as R22, HCFC-22 or Freon was officially phased out. This means that both production and import of R-22 is prohibited in the US, making R22 increasingly rarer and more expensive to obtain.
Unfortunately, many old air conditioners still use this obsolete refrigerant. Should your old R22 system develop a refrigerant leak, the only way to recharge it is with recycled R22. The current standard refrigerant, called R410A or Puron, is more eco-friendly than the ozone-depleting R22. If your system was installed after 2010, chances are you have a modern R410A system. But if your system is older, it might still be using R22.
Is Your Current System Matched?
When you (or a previous homeowner) had your current AC installed, did you replace the outdoor unit while keeping the old indoor unit, or vice versa? This plan may seem logical on the surface, especially when one part of the split system is still functional. It probably even saved some money initially. Replacing only the condenser or only the air handler unit can result in an equipment mismatch. Just like mismatched sock styles, these two units were not made to be together and are sure to cause trouble down the road. In short, a mismatched system can result in reduced operating efficiency and shortened lifespan. Even more problematic, it will void the warranty on the new component. If your current air conditioner is mismatched, we recommend replacing it with a matched system to validate your warranty and save yourself from a headache down the road.
Is Your Current HVAC System Meeting Your Home Comfort Needs?
It is tempting to put off replacing your HVAC system for “just one more year. . .” until that record-breaking heat wave or cold snap hits. Don’t wait to the point of experiencing misery in your own home! If your unit is. . .
- struggling to keep up with the cooling (or heating) demand
- not cooling/heating evenly
- not dehumidifying properly
- racking up sky-high cooling costs.
...it’s time to consider replacing your unit. Your system might be over- or under-sized or mismatched. Or, you might be a candidate for newer home comfort innovations like a zoning system or variable speed technology. Whatever your specific HVAC situation, you deserve to be in control of your family’s comfort!
Don’t wait for out-of-control energy bills or a miserable summer to maintain or replace your HVAC system. Call Comfort Control today for your maintenance, repair, and replacement needs.
