If you’re deep cleaning your home this spring so that it shines from top to bottom, remember to add heating, ventilation and air conditioning system preventive maintenance to your checklist.
“A clean and properly charged HVAC system will run more efficiently, save energy and prevent breakdowns,” said Lenny Earnst, owner of Central Heating & Air Conditioning in Billings. Giving your HVAC system the regular maintenance it needs can also lower your utility bills. And you won’t get caught with a sudden system failure, Earnst noted. A system breakdown can be inconvenient and expensive, with potential long waits for repair or replacement.
Clean and inspect
“Preventive maintenance on your HVAC system includes cleaning the system, changing the filters and checking the air conditioning refrigerant charge,” Earnst said. “We look for any components that are not functioning properly and do a visual inspection and diagnostic testing of the HVAC components.”
Specks of dust spike utility bills
You can see dust on your coffee table or bookshelves, but you can’t see the dust that can build up inside your HVAC system. Dust on the blower wheel slows the rotation speed, making it work harder and cutting the amount of air blowing through your home. That’s why it’s important to have a trained technician clean your system. “If the refrigerant is not properly charged, or if there is even a small amount of dust on the air conditioner or the blower wheel, that can translate into large increases in energy consumption,” Earnst said.
Preventive plan
Central Heating & Air Conditioning offers a yearly maintenance plan that is like a membership, Earnst said. “With the service plan, the actual cost of maintenance is less. You save about 15% on the cost of a maintenance visit and get a 15% discount on parts and labor.”
The maintenance plan reduces the likelihood of your system breaking down. But if your HVAC system does need repair, you have access to 24-hour emergency service at no additional cost. For weekend or holiday service, the labor costs are the same as for Monday through Friday. “You never pay an overtime fee,” said Earnst.
Convenient reminders
While house and yard care are often top of mind for homeowners, it’s easy to overlook the importance of HVAC maintenance. “People tend to forget about it,” Earnst said. With the maintenance plan, you’ll receive reminders that make it easy and convenient to schedule the service at a time that suits you, avoiding time lost from work to wait for a technician.
Peace of mind
When chilly spring mornings require heat to take the edge off and as spring afternoons turn balmy enough to turn on the AC, HVAC preventive maintenance gives you the peace of mind that comes with knowing your system is in tiptop shape.
Call Central Heating & Air Conditioning at 406.245.5424 to find out more about their preventive maintenance plan or to schedule a maintenance visit. For more information, visit centralheatingandairmt.com.
