Austin HVAC Maintenance – How’s and Why’s

The how’s and why’s of routine HVAC unit maintenance.

hot and cold thermometersMaintaining your HVAC unit is essential to insuring that it will be ready to use when you need it. Just like a car needs routing oil changes and servicing, so do heating and cooling systems. Providing there is not an immediate need, most units should be serviced twice per year if they provide both heating and cooling. If they provide only heating or cooling, then once per year prior to the operating season should suffice. During a routine maintenance appointment, your HVAC professional will inspect your system’s operating system, moving parts, safety controls and the thermostat to insure that they are in complete working order. In addition, they will lubricate the moving parts per the manufacturer’s specifications, clean and change the filter and insure the proper voltage and amperage for your system. This is essential for the optimal operation of your system.

So why should you service your HVAC unit bi-annually. Besides the obvious benefits of having a professional look over your system to determine if there are any issues that are likely to arise, these routine maintenance visits can save you time and money later. In Austin, HVAC units operate nearly year round in most homes. This ongoing usage creates wear and tear that can go undetected until it is too late. Having a professional look over your system regularly can insure that your home stays comfortable year-round. Like an automobile, lubricating the moving parts helps to minimize friction, which increases the wear and tear on your unit. Installing clean air filters increases the airflow through the system and reduces the dust particles within the system. If your thermostat is not working properly, your HVAC system will have to work harder to maintain the temperature that you have set, especially if the thermostat isn’t registering the room temperature correctly. This will add dollars to your energy bills and increased wear and tear on your system.

In addition to the general areas inspected, the HVAC specialists will inspect other vital areas on your heating and cooling familyunits. On the heating unit, the following areas are inspected and recommendations made: the combustion – draft and flue, proper ignition, relays and wiring connections. Finally, the pilot light will be cleaned and adjusted. Cooling unit operating pressure, temperature drop on cooling coil, primary and secondary condensate drain, condenser coil and contact points are checked and the refrigerant is charged. All of these things help insure that your HVAC unit is operating in peak condition when you need it.

In Austin, HVAC units are vital to maintaining your homes year-round comfort. That is why it is essential to schedule bi-annual servicing. These service appointments help in diagnosing potential failures within your system and ensure that your system is operating at its peak efficiency. Routine servicing can also extend the useful life of your system by eliminating unnecessary wear and tear. Casa Mechanical is Austin’s HVAC specialist. Contact us today to schedule your bi-annual service appointments and start saving.