Here in Texas, our HVAC units are essential to our health, well-being, comfort, and physical safety. We know how brutally hot summers can be, and we have seen over the past few years that having a heater not working in the winter can be a dangerous situation for our families as well. The main question that Texas homeowners ask is, “How do I keep my HVAC unit running strong, season after season?”. Here is a guide for keeping your Texas home’s HVAC unit up and running.
Regular, Seasonal Maintenance Is the Key
The thing about HVAC units is they have parts that need to run at very high speeds. This is especially true about your central air unit. When homeowners fail to maintain their HVAC units, they are more prone to failure. The following are some benefits of regular, seasonal maintenance for your HVAC unit and what you can expect from HVAC maintenance service.
Preventing Failing Parts
Regular maintenance by your local, trusted HVAC technician will help you find failing parts before they leave you in dangerously hot temperatures with no relief. Sadly, it really is not Murphy’s fault. Parts that are ready to fail will do so more frequently when they get the most stress. That is when your system is on more and running at full tilt to either keep you warm or cold. So, if your system is on the verge of having a problem, you will more likely have a failure occur when the system is under the heaviest load on the hottest and coldest days of the season. We have learned that the number of days for these extreme heat and cold snaps tends to be more rather than less with each passing year.
When your local HVAC technician tests your AC and heating systems in the shoulder seasons, you can count on a far higher probability of getting through the season without failure. If there are issues that need to be addressed over time, your technician will make you aware of future problems and allow you to decide when to best address them.
Lubrication, Cleaning, and Calibration Equals Longevity and Dependable Service
When your HVAC technician comes out for a maintenance service call, they are going to lubricate all of the moving parts, like motors and bearings, and clean and blow out fans and condenser coil, and the condensate drain line and pan. This keeps parts from seizing and sticking and from adding too much humidity to the AC system. These measures also reduce wear on the system, promoting longevity. Your technician is going to check to ensure fan belts are at just the right tightness and are in good shape to get your family through the season in comfort. They are going to test and calibrate the system’s output as well as test the electrical components and safety mechanisms. They will provide more refrigerant as needed.
With a seasonal maintenance service call, your HVAC technician will also ensure there are no blockages in the outdoor or indoor portions of your system. They will ensure the burner flame and pilot light on gas furnaces are at the right height and color. This latter procedure not only helps your heating unit work at its best all season long, but it also ensures that your family will not be poisoned with carbon monoxide gas as you sleep.
When you call your HVAC contractor to provide regular, seasonal maintenance to your central air and furnace units, you can rest easy knowing that parts are less likely to fail during the season. Also, your unit will last longer and be less prone to failure, because the system is clean, lubricated, and calibrated to run with peak performance and not be straining through the season.
