After relying on your air conditioner during the hot summer months and into fall, it likely stays dormant during winter and spring. This could mean that for anywhere from three to six months your air conditioner is sitting unused and off your mind. This idle time is more than enough to accumulate dust and dirt, and for parts to get rusty.
Instead of chancing an unwelcome surprise breakdown when you turn your air on after the first triple-digit scorcher, having your air conditioner maintained in the spring will ensure it’s in working order when that first hot day hits us. To avoid problems when it’s already too late, here are five reasons why spring is the perfect time to schedule HVAC maintenance.
They say the early bird gets the worm—the same thing is true when it comes to A/C maintenance. If you schedule your maintenance visits early in the spring, you’ll avoid the rush of less-prompt homeowners vying for an appointment slot later. Plus, you’ll be able to rest easy during the summer months, instead of having to call and schedule service on an air conditioner that hasn’t been serviced or maintained.
The last thing any homeowner wants is to wake up to find that their air conditioner broke in the middle of the night, leaving the whole house miserably hot and uncomfortable. During the unrelenting Phoenix summers, going without air conditioning for even a couple of hours can feel excruciating. While you can call for emergency HVAC service to get the problem taken care of, getting maintenance is the best way to avoid the problem in the first place.
Another thing to remember is that, oftentimes, seasonal maintenance isn’t available during the summer. That’s another reason why it’s recommended that you schedule maintenance in the spring, rather than waiting until temperatures are high.
During a maintenance visit, a technician can detect and fix small problems before they turn into larger and more expensive ones. Even something as small as a screw that’s come loose or a fan blade that’s off balance can wreak havoc on your air conditioner, driving up your energy bills and setting your system up for a potential breakdown. Loose parts and broken components can also cause other components to stop working, creating a domino effect.
For example, a refrigerant leak can lead to a frozen evaporator coil, even In the middle of summer—this makes the heat transfer process less efficient, lowering indoor air quality and if enough ice builds up, ultimately damaging your HVAC system enough to cause a breakdown. This is just one of the many ways that one malfunctioning component can bring the entire system down, showing just how important it is to make sure everything’s working properly.
If you want to enjoy the summer without worrying about your energy bills going through the roof, the best thing you can do is schedule HVAC maintenance in the spring. Regular HVAC maintenance can cut down your monthly energy bills by up to 15%. When all the components in your air conditioner are working together and functioning as they should, it doesn’t take as much energy to cool your home. However, if you skip maintenance, you run the risk of having a malfunctioning component consuming more energy that it should.
For example, a common air conditioning problem is low refrigerant. Low refrigerant can cause your air conditioner to work overtime just to cool your home, creating issues like short cycling that can drive your energy bills up—especially during the sweltering summers. But, if you schedule maintenance in the spring, a technician will have no problem identifying and fixing low refrigerant problems, saving you money in the long run.
With the start of summer in Phoenix comes monsoon season, full of high winds and rain that bring a lot of dust and debris. The summer is also peak season for haboobs, or dust storms. These weather phenomenon spell trouble for indoor air quality, and can cause problems for those with asthma, allergies and other respiratory conditions. An air conditioner that isn’t functioning properly or maintained regularly is unable to effectively filter and block outdoor pollutants from entering your home. Preventative maintenance can help ensure that your air conditioner is ready to handle the challenges of poor air quality and keep the air in your home clean, cool and comfortable.
It’s important to know when the best time is to schedule HVAC maintenance, but it’s just as important to know how often to schedule maintenance. At Chas Roberts, we recommend that you have your HVAC unit inspected and maintained twice a year—once before the heating season and once before the cooling season. In other words, during the spring and during the fall, when temperatures are mild, and you don’t yet have to rely on your air conditioner or heater to keep your home comfortable.
Rather than having to remember to schedule maintenance twice a year, Chas Roberts makes it easy with our MVP Plan. This plan is designed to keep your air conditioning and heating systems working in top condition with a twice annual maintenance check-up. With the plan, you’ll receive:
You’ll also enjoy a more efficient air conditioner and heater and the peace of mind that your home is going to stay comfortable no matter what the temperature is outside.
What separates Chas Roberts from countless other heating and cooling professionals in the Valley is our exclusive 26-point maintenance plan. While other companies may only perform a quick check for loose bolts or dirty filters, we take the time to inspect your entire system from top to bottom, inside and out. We take the comfort of your home seriously—which is why we’ve been delivering superior service to the Valley for over 75 years. Whether you’re looking to schedule maintenance or have a question about our services, contact us for all of your heating and cooling needs.