articleseducationSeptember 28, 2023by cityairadminThe Cost of Neglect: Skipping HVAC Maintenance May Lead to Larger Expenses

Your home’s HVAC system works a lot harder than you may realize. As long as you aim to maintain a consistent indoor temperature, your heating and cooling systems will need to operate for extended periods. In North Carolina, these machines work double time during the summer and winter to keep extreme temperatures from affecting you and your family.

With that in mind, how often do you service and inspect your HVAC system? If it’s been over a year (or multiple years) since the last checkup, it’s past time to give us a call. Here are the essential elements of HVAC maintenance and why it’s so valuable.

Before scheduling an HVAC checkup, it’s good to know what to expect during the service. While individual systems may require more thorough inspection, the basic stages include:

• Exterior Components – In this phase, our team meticulously examines your A/C and heating units to guarantee they’re in pristine condition free from dust and grime. We also scrutinize for any indicators of deterioration, such as fissures, corrosion, or compromised components. Additionally, we give your outdoor A/C unit a thorough review, clearing away any obstructive debris. It’s common for tree needles and other natural detritus to accumulate in the unit, so we ensure these are removed, and all components are impeccably cleaned.
• Interior Parts – After cleaning and inspecting the outside of your HVAC system, we’ll look inside to ensure that all the various mechanical pieces are working properly. We may also run the system to see if there are any signs of wear, such as grinding, squealing, or knocking. If any part needs replacing, we’ll discuss the situation with you before taking care of the job.
• Ductwork – Your home’s ducts can get pretty filthy over time, especially if you don’t change your air filters very often. While dirt and dust are to be expected, we’ll look for any signs of mold or clogs in the system.

Ideally, we can come by and inspect the air conditioner in the spring and the heating system in the fall. It’s best to check these elements before the weather changes significantly and they experience more wear and tear.

Realistically, though, an annual inspection is sufficient for most HVAC systems. Since we inspect both the A/C (Spring/Summer) and the heater (Fall/Winter), we can identify any problems and provide you with potential solutions.

If your HVAC system is running fine, you may wonder if an annual checkup is necessary. However, there are some tangible benefits of regular inspections, including:

• Better Energy Efficiency – When all the parts of your HVAC are clean and up-to-date, the entire system runs more smoothly. An annual inspection can help lower your energy bills, particularly when you’re running the system daily.
• Prevent Major Repairs – If you wait until something breaks on your heating or cooling unit, the cost to fix it will likely be pretty high. However, if we spot a worn part and replace it before it breaks, the expense is far cheaper. 
• Better Heating and Cooling – Many Charlotte homeowners aren’t getting the best HVAC experience throughout the year. If you notice that some rooms struggle to maintain the right temperature, the problem could be a faulty component or a clogged duct. So, an inspection can help the system disperse air more evenly, meaning you don’t have to deal with hot and cold zones inside the house anymore.

If you want your HVAC system to be running as smoothly and efficiently as possible, an annual inspection will work wonders. At City Air Experts, we make AC and heating maintenance as painless and hassle-free as possible. We also make sure to walk you through every step so you’re informed if anything happens or if we find any problems. Contact us today to schedule your HVAC checkup!