Seasonal Maintenance

Maintenance for All Your Heating and Cooling Systems

Seasonal maintenance is done twice annually: first in spring to set up your cooling system to handle summer, and then in fall to get the heater ready for winter. We work with all types of heating and cooling systems:

• Central Air Conditioning Systems: During maintenance for a central AC, our technicians will do checks on the refrigerant pressure, the thermostat, the control board, and the motors. They’ll lubricate moving parts and clean the outdoor coils for maximum efficiency and replace filters as necessary.
• Furnaces: Furnaces require special safety checks to ensure they aren’t leaking carbon monoxide and that there are no cracks in the heat exchanger. Maintenance tasks include lubricating the motors, cleaning the burner assembly, checking the draft inducer and limit switch, examining the control board, and cleaning as necessary.
• Heat Pumps & Ductless Mini Splits: These units both heat and cool, but they still need maintenance twice a year from our technicians because they do double the work of a standalone air conditioner or heater. The maintenance steps we take are similar to those for an air conditioning system, as these work in a similar fashion.

Regular Maintenance Rewards Your Investment—Here’s How

People are sometimes reluctant to pay upfront for maintenance, hoping their systems will be able to run for another year without problems. However, regular seasonal maintenance is an investment, one that will pay you back several times over the life of your HVAC system. Here are the ways that professional seasonal maintenance pays for itself:

• Better Energy Efficiency: On average, a heating and cooling system loses about 5% of its energy efficiency each year because of wear and tear. That will rapidly add up to you paying far more for comfort than you should. Maintenance will help an HVAC system lose only 5% of its efficiency over most of its service life.
• Fewer Repairs: Here’s an important fact to know—the majority of repairs a furnace, AC, heat pump, boiler, or other comfort system will need during its service life are due to maintenance neglect. When you keep up with seasonal maintenance, you’ll avoid more than half the repairs you would otherwise have needed to pay for.
• No Early Replacement: Skipping maintenance lets wear and tear take hold of your HVAC system early, and you may need to replace it years before the end of its estimated service life. Maintenance helps you avoid the steep cost of an early replacement, giving you extra years of comfort.
• Keeps the Warranty Valid: HVAC equipment warranties usually require that the unit receives regular maintenance to remain valid. Thanks to maintenance, you won’t get caught making a full payment for a service the warranty covers.

Seasonal Maintenance—When to Schedule It

Technically, there’s no fixed schedule for when to have maintenance done. There’s no "expiration date" as long as you have it done twice a year, once for your cooling system and once for your heating system (or twice for your heat pump or ductless mini split heat pump). However, if you want to get the most out of regular maintenance, we recommend following this schedule:

• Heat Pumps and Ductless Mini Splits: Twice a year, first in spring and then in fall. You use these systems around the year, so they need to be treated as if they were a separate heating and cooling system.
• Central Air Conditioners: Plan to have the job done in spring so you’re in time for the first arrival of hot weather.
• Furnaces & Boilers: Once a year in the fall to ensure safe winter operation and preparation for the cold weather.

You’ll find it much easier to stick to regular maintenance if you join our Planned Maintenance Program. We’ll help keep you on track with when you need to schedule maintenance.

The Major Benefits of Seasonal HVAC Maintenance

There are numerous ways you’ll benefit from scheduling regular maintenance with our professionals. Below are some of the biggest:

Improved Energy Efficiency

Routine maintenance ensures that your HVAC system operates at peak efficiency, which can lead to significant energy savings. Our technicians clean and adjust your system to minimize energy waste, helping lower your monthly utility bills.

Enhanced System Reliability

Regular check-ups help catch small issues before they become major, costly problems. By addressing these early, you can reduce the chances of unexpected breakdowns and enjoy reliable comfort throughout the season.

Extended Equipment Lifespan

Seasonal maintenance can add years to the life of your HVAC system. Well-maintained systems experience less wear and tear, meaning you won’t have to worry about a replacement as soon as you might with a neglected system.

Better Indoor Air Quality

Our maintenance service includes cleaning filters and components that affect air quality. This reduces the amount of dust, allergens, and other pollutants circulating in your home, helping everyone breathe easier.

Protection of Warranty Coverage

Most HVAC manufacturers require regular maintenance to keep warranties valid. Scheduling service with us ensures that your system remains in good standing, giving you peace of mind in case any major repairs are needed.

Greater Comfort

With seasonal maintenance, your HVAC system can provide more consistent temperatures and improved humidity control. You’ll enjoy a comfortable home environment, no matter the season. And that’s the best benefit of all—keeping your home a haven of comfort!

Why You Shouldn’t Skip Seasonal Maintenance

We know people get busy, and sometimes jobs like maintenance can slip through the cracks. Or perhaps you think that missing maintenance a year or two here and there can’t be that bad. However, there are plenty of negative effects of not keeping up with seasonal maintenance twice a year:

Steeper Energy Bills

When your HVAC system isn’t maintained, it must work harder to keep your home comfortable, which means it uses more energy. This can lead to noticeably higher utility bills, with your HVAC system losing, on average, 5% of its original energy efficiency each year.

Potential Safety Hazards

HVAC systems are designed to run at high safety standards, but missing maintenance raises the risk. This is particularly true of gas-powered units like natural gas furnaces, which can lead to carbon monoxide or create combustion dangers if they’re neglected. Maintenance is crucial for keeping you HVAC running safely at all times.

Increased Chance of Sudden Failure

Without regular inspections, minor issues can go undetected and eventually lead to costly repairs or complete system breakdowns. Seasonal maintenance helps catch these problems early, so you can avoid the inconvenience and expense of emergency repairs that strike at the worst times (which they always seem to do).

Shorter System Lifespan

Skipping maintenance accelerates wear and tear on your HVAC components, which can shorten the system’s lifespan. Replacing an HVAC system is a significant investment, so maintenance can help you make the most of it by extending its operational years.

Bad Indoor Air Quality

A neglected HVAC system can accumulate dust, allergens, and even mold, which then circulates in your home. This buildup reduces indoor air quality and can aggravate allergies and respiratory issues for household members.

Voided Warranty

Most HVAC manufacturers require regular maintenance as part of their warranty terms. If you skip maintenance, you may risk voiding your warranty, meaning you’ll have to cover the full cost of any repairs that would have otherwise been covered.

Poor Comfort

An unmaintained system may struggle to keep up with temperature changes and provide even, reliable heating or cooling. This can lead to inconsistent comfort in your home, with hot or cold spots that make it difficult to enjoy your space.

What to Expect During Maintenance

When our technicians perform seasonal maintenance, they thoroughly inspect, clean, and adjust your HVAC system to ensure it’s ready to keep your home comfortable all season long. Here’s what we do for each type of system:

Central Air Conditioners

For central air conditioners, technicians inspect key components like the compressor, condenser coils, and evaporator coils. They clean these coils to prevent dust buildup, which can affect efficiency. Filters are replaced or cleaned, refrigerant levels are checked, and any leaks are identified and repaired. They also ensure the blower motor is operating properly and that the thermostat settings are calibrated for optimal performance.

Furnaces

During furnace maintenance, we clean and check the burners, ignition system, and heat exchanger for any cracks or signs of wear that could lead to safety issues. The air filter is replaced, and the blower motor and belts are inspected and lubricated if needed. The technician also tests the furnace’s safety features, including the limit switch and flame sensor, to ensure safe operation. Finally, the thermostat is calibrated to make sure it’s accurately controlling the temperature.

Boilers

For boilers, maintenance includes inspecting and cleaning the burner and heat exchanger to ensure efficient operation. Technicians check water pressure, adjust the expansion tank, and test the pilot light or electronic ignition. They also look for signs of corrosion, leaks, or blockages in the system and perform necessary adjustments to the controls. If your boiler is connected to a radiant heating system, the technician will check the piping and ensure even heating throughout.

Heat Pumps and Ductless Mini Splits

Heat pumps and ductless mini splits require attention to both heating and cooling functions. During maintenance, our technician will check and clean the coils, air filters, and blower components. Refrigerant levels are tested and refilled if needed, and any connections are inspected for leaks. For ductless mini splits, each indoor unit is checked for even airflow, and the outdoor unit is cleared of debris to improve efficiency. The system’s reversing valve, which controls the switch between heating and cooling, is also inspected to ensure smooth operation in all modes.

By the end of the maintenance visit, each HVAC system is optimized, ensuring energy efficiency, safety, and reliable performance for the season ahead.

Our Planned Maintenance Program Is Here to Help

We hope that you’re convinced of the importance of seasonal maintenance. To get started, you only need to reach out to our team at Affordable Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc. and ask about our Planned Maintenance Program. The program includes two seasonal maintenance visits per year when our technicians will give your systems a thorough inspection, tune-up, and safety check. As a member, you’ll receive special discounts on repairs, and you’ll also have priority customer service so you’ll be at the front of the line when you need repairs or other HVAC services.