Who doesn’t want to feel comfy in their own home? HVAC systems help you feel cozy, warm, and enable you to breathe fresh air regardless of the outside weather. The furnace, air conditioning system, heat pumps, boilers, chillers, and various fans and ducts – all work together as a unit in your HVAC system to make your indoors cozy. Though it takes care of your indoors, you have the responsibility to keep its health in check, AKA to maintain the system.
This post will go through the costs involved in HVAC maintenance, how to reduce the cost, when you can attempt maintenance tasks by yourself, and when you should call a professional.
What is HVAC Maintenance?
HVAC maintenance is the regularly scheduled checkup for your HVAC unit. Maintenance includes bi-annual AC maintenance (before summer) and heating system checks (before winter) to prevent breakdowns.
Why Maintain Your HVAC System
To make sure your HVAC is running smoothly, you need to maintain it. The reaping benefits of maintaining are:
(1) Optimal performance: Scheduling maintenance will help you understand what’s going on in your system. Any defects, malfunctions, or disturbances can hinder the quality of the HVAC system. The inspection and correction of any problem will increase your system’s optimal potency.
(2) Reduced energy consumption: A malfunctioning system will consume more energy and output less performance in return. Regular HVAC maintenance involves activities like cleaning ducts, filters, and coils. So, maintenance increases the system’s efficiency and thus reduces energy consumption.
(3) Lower electricity bill: A healthy system will always use just the energy required. No extra energy usage means no excess electricity bill.
(4) Improved indoor quality: A good system provides fresh air and suitable temperature to live in. Regular maintenance ensure your system is at optimal condition for performance. Good heating from your HVAC also prevents mold growth on walls, clothes and furniture.
(5) Removal of allergens: A smooth-running AC reduces the number of allergens in your home. Regular maintenance makes sure the system and airflow are smooth.
(6) Extended life span: Maintenance is the first requirement to increase the HVAC’s lifespan. For older systems, it is more important.
(7) Budget friendly: Maintenance package or packages always come with the contract given by your manufacturer after purchasing the HVAC. It doesn’t cost you as much as repairing.
(8) Prevent unnecessary cost: Major problems require high financial investment to fix. Regular inspection will detect problems early in your HVAC system. Fixing them early prevents the need to replace some parts or the entire system.
(9) Warranty coverage: Some manufacturers require regular maintenance to continue their warranty contract. Following the manufacturer’s maintenance package will cover your warranty.
How to Choose the Best HVAC Maintenance Plan
Not all services provide the same facilities. They differ in equipment, maintenance plans, and even labor service as well. So, what to consider before choosing a maintenance plan?
Age: New HVAC systems will benefit from basic maintenance, while older systems need frequent checkups and repairs. The older your system is, the more you have to pay for frequent inspection and repairs.
Budget: Choose a maintenance plan according to your budget. Determine the need according to budget and comfort. Before you schedule HVAC maintenance, ask providers about discounts for bundled services or annual contracts.
Services: Don’t fall for cheaper plans. They only focus on short-term fixes. Always choose comprehensive plans, as they are cost-effective in the long run. Also, pay attention to inspection and testing frequencies mentioned in the contract before selecting maintenance plans.
What is the Standard Cost of an HVAC Maintenance Program?
Seasonal, preventative, and corrective measures in maintenance packages are popular and served by manufacturers. A typical standard maintenance program will cost around 50$-500$. However, the cost hugely varies according to the system’s size, type, location, etc.
Different Types of Maintenance with Cost
Here is a breakdown of typical professional HVAC maintenance programs with cost-
1. Seasonal Maintenance
Seasonal maintenance focuses on cleaning up the dirt, soot and corrosion from furnaces and broilers. It can cost around $70–$400.
2. Preventative Maintenance
HVAC Preventative maintenance focuses on preventing huge breakdowns of the system in the long run. It includes:
Annual Comprehensive Maintenance
Thorough inspection, cleaning, and tune-up of the entire HVAC system are key factors of annual HVAC maintenance. Often recommended twice a year, in spring and fall, with costs varying from up to 600$ or sometimes more including discounts and priority scheduling.
Basic Tune-Up
Basic tune-ups includes filter changes, checking refrigerant levels, and inspecting belts and pulleys. Some services provide all of them within a service. Individually, each service cost can be as follows:
· Filter cleaning and changing: 10$-50$
· Checking refrigerant levels: 75$-200$
· Inspection and changing of belts and pulleys: 100$-195$
· Air duct cleaning: 270$-525$
- Air duct sealing: 500$-4000$
· Basic furnace cleaning: Focuses on cleaning the blower motor and blower that costs ranging from $70 to $300.
· Deep cleaning of furnace: This involves a more thorough cleaning of the furnace, including the combustion chamber, burner, and flame sensor. Costs can range from $70 to $300.
3. Corrective maintenance
Corrective maintenance focuses mainly on repairing the system; addressing issues like leaks, compressor problems, or other malfunction. Costs involve:
● Thermostat Repair or Replacement: $125–$270.
● HVAC Repair Costs: Can range from $130 to $2,000 on average, with some repairs costing as much as $3,000.
● HVAC Service Contracts: Typically, the average cost is between $150 and $500 per year.
Is HVAC Maintenance Worth the Cost?
Every machine or system has its expiry date. Your HVAC is no exception, even for a well-maintained one. A well-maintained HVAC system will last up to 15-20 years or even longer.
To reap the most benefit out of your system and make it last the whole lifespan, it’s always wise to choose a maintenance plan. Additionally, proper maintenance reduces your energy use significantly. Your energy bills will be substantially lower each months.
All the savings from bills and preventing repair adds up soon enough and some more through proper and regular maintenance.
How to Save Money on HVAC Maintenance Costs?
HVAC maintenance is the unavoidable part of your home’s running heating and cooling system. Here are some tips to save money on your HVAC maintenance cost:
· Cleaning the system: You can clean condenser fans, indoor evaporator coils, grills, and ducts to prevent it from getting mold and other contaminants. By not having to clean the parts as much, you can save up to 300$.
· Regular changing of air filters: The same as cleaning the system, filter keeps your systems’ internal parts safe from dust/debris buildup. It is recommended to change air filters every 30-90 days for better air flow and efficient working.
· Keeping an eye on the thermostat: Always keep an eye on the thermostat and monitor the heating and cooling parameters. Early detection of any disturbance will save you huge in the future.
· Shopping the best deal: Look for discounts and offers while picking the best deal for your system.
Reducing Maintenance Costs Through DIY
You can handle some minor issues and maintenance tasks yourself, like:
· Changing filters
· Cleaning drain pans
· Cleaning condenser coils
· Checking basic electrical troubleshooting
· Inspecting and tightening connections
· Replacing thermostats
· Repairing small leaks with tapes
However, keep in mind that you need the right tools to handle them properly. If you don’t feel comfortable working with the parts, always consult with a professional first.
When to Seek Professionals?
You can troubleshoot and fix many minor problems, but it is expected to hire professionals when you need:
(1) Annual tune-ups: When it comes to bi-annual checkups, make sure to use your HVAC maintenance contract and leave all the inspections to professionals. A well-trained professional will help your system run smoothly, efficiently and help your monthly budget by cutting down unnecessary costs.
(2) Complex fixes: Beyond any minor issues like changing filters or tightening connections, hire a professional HVAC technician to solve.
(3) Preventative maintenance: Standard preventative maintenance should be done by a specialized technician provided by the manufacturer according to the contract. They will help your system to run 15-20 years smoothly. They will also inform you when to repair parts, change parts and reinstall the entire system.
Why is Lee Air Services the best?
At Lee Air Services, we specialize in comprehensive HVAC plans that cover pre-summer and pre-winter checklists-
★ Pre-summer check(cooling equipment checklist):
✓Inspect Thermostat
✓ Clean or inspect filter
✓ Clean Condenser Coil
✓ Inspect all electrical connections
✓ Inspect amp & volt draw on motors
✓ Inspect refrigerant charge
✓ Lubricate moving parts
✓ Inspect all capacitors
✓ Check for refrigerant leaks
✓ Inspect contactor
✓ Inspect disconnect power box
✓ Inspect power breaker
✓ Inspect evaporator coil when accessible
✓ Test Cycle for Proper operations
★ Pre-winter check(Heating equipment checklist):
✓ Inspect Thermostat
✓ Clean or inspect filter
✓ Inspect heat exchanger
✓ Inspect temperature rise
✓ Inspect fan control
✓ Inspect furnace safety controls
✓ Inspect for gas leaks
✓ Inspect gas valve operation
✓ Inspect electrical connections
✓ Check gas pressure
✓ Lubricate all moving parts
✓ Inspect back up heat elements
✓ Inspect sequencer operation
✓ Inspect volt & amp draw on motors
✓ Inspect all circuit breakers
✓ Inspect reversing valve operation
✓ Inspect defrost control
✓ Test Cycle for Proper operations
Our yearly agreement plan includes tax and cost variations due to the number of systems.
| Number of Systems | Cost/year |
| 1 | $165.88 |
| 2 | $308.80 |
| 3 | $451.60 |
| 4 | $594.52 |
| 5 | $737.44 |
In addition, you also get priority service with a 10% discount on repair or replacement parts. Check out the website for more details or book your service call.
Conclusion
Maintenance of the HVAC is a must. Sometimes, a one-time payment may seem costly and can be exaggerated, but it will save a ton of money in the long run. Even regular inspection of individual units would be costly with extra labor cost added where a structured maintenance plan provides a well-rounded charge for every unit including taxes and labor cost and often subsided with discounts. There are a lot of options to choose from in a maintenance plan. A standard plan is always wise to choose based on personal preference and cost.
FAQS about maintenance cost
Is it cost-effective to hire a technician or to seek professional help?
Indeed. A technician is well educated in his field. Maintaining HVAC is not a DIY job, but you can change filters, clean fans, and tighten loose connections. A professional visit will detect the exact problem and can solve the root cause of the problem. It may seem costly on a professional visit, but costly repairs take more toll on your wallet.
How often should I maintain an HVAC system?
It is recommended to tune up once a year for each part of your HVAC system. Meaning schedule maintenance on the air conditioner early spring and heater or furnace maintenance in the fall.
Does changing air filters help with cost saving?
Yes. Changing air filters every 30-90 days(disposable fiberglass air filters) will increase your air conditioner’s lifespan. If not cleaned as recommended, dust and debris will stick onto it, and it may lose its potential to work. Emergency professional calls will cost you extra money on visits.
Are emergency services more costly than regular maintenance?
Yes, emergency services cost additional charges than regular maintenance packages. Maintenance packages are often lined with discounts, and labor costs are included. If the technician dispatches you outside the contract or on weekends or holidays, then you have to pay an extra $200-$300.