New homeowners often underestimate the importance of their home’s HVAC system. These systems are crucial to maintaining a comfortable temperature and clean air throughout your home. If you’re a new homeowner yourself or struggling to maintain a comfortable indoor setting, give your home a reset, starting with your HVAC system. System tune-ups are crucial to the health and function of your home’s heating, ventilation, and air conditioning, so don’t skip this maintenance step. If you’re unfamiliar with the tune-up process, learn what to expect the next time you schedule a home HVAC tune-up.
Importance of an HVAC Tune-Up
There are many important reasons to keep up with home HVAC tune-ups. Tune-ups and inspections are crucial maintenance steps to keep your HVAC unit in good condition. By scheduling routine maintenance for your unit, you preserve its condition so that it can continue to provide clean indoor air, comfortable temperatures, and energy savings.
Putting off tune-ups, inspections, and maintenance on your home’s HVAC system could lead to your unit breaking down on you at the worst times. No one wants to go into the frigid winter season with a broken heating system or deal with broken air conditioning in the summer months. Tune-ups offer preventative maintenance against system breakdowns and ensure your system is in good condition for seasons when you need it most.
What Does an HVAC Tune-Up Include?
To understand why HVAC tune-ups are so important and learn what to expect during this maintenance, it helps to know what goes into this process. Here are some of the maintenance areas that contractors cross off their checklists during a tune-up.
Air Conditioning Tune-Up Checklist
During an air-conditioning tune-up, contractors usually focus on a few different parts of the overall unit. They will check and clean the condensate drain line and pan. They also check refrigerant levels and add more refrigerant if needed. Technicians will also check the blower components, aligning and cleaning these parts to keep airflow strong and steady. Finally, contractors also need to inspect your air conditioner’s evaporator and condenser cooling system as well as clean these parts. Technicians cross these items off their lists while also lubricating and calibrating all moving parts to prevent unnecessary wear and tear.
Heating Tune-Up Checklist
While checking the heat mechanics of your HVAC unit, contractors will inspect various parts according to a set checklist. They check and clean the system’s burners, oil connections, and heat exchangers and check the gas and oil pressure. The heat exchanger is a crucial part of both the heating and cooling process, so contractors pay close attention to these mechanisms and check for cracks, leaks, or other signs of damage. After inspecting and cleaning these parts, the contractor will start up your system to ensure everything is in order and to measure the temperature changes.
Ventilation Tune-Up Checklist
While many homeowners change their home’s air filters on their own, some might not be familiar with the practice. There are so many types of air filters on the market that it can be difficult to tell which is right for your HVAC system model. If you’re unsure, your contractor can recommend a suitable air filter or even change it for you if they have one ready. Contractor ventilation tune-ups also include inspections for signs of mold growth and general wear and tear that could lead to issues in the future.
How Long Do HVAC Tune-Ups Take?
HVAC tune-ups are usually quick work for an experienced contractor or professional. You can expect the average HVAC tune-up to take about an hour. However, depending on the needed maintenance and unique requirements for your unit, the expert could need additional time for repairs. For example, if your unit requires a refrigerant refill, the process could take an additional thirty minutes or more, depending on the configuration. In general, most HVAC tune-ups are short and simple procedures that won’t require you to rearrange your schedule, so there’s no reason to put one off.
When To Schedule Your HVAC Tune-Up
Now that you know the ins and outs of HVAC tune-ups, you might be wondering when to schedule this maintenance in the future. Regardless of your unit’s type and configuration, aim for a tune-up at least once per year. Seasonality is also important to consider when scheduling HVAC maintenance. For example, it’s best to schedule tune-ups for your cooling system in the spring and heating repairs during the fall. This ensures your HVAC unit will be in proper condition for the most extreme seasons when you’ll be running it the most. With the winter season fast approaching, now is the perfect time to schedule tune-ups and repairs.
How To Find a HVAC Service Provider
Another crucial aspect of maintenance is to schedule your tune-ups with a professional contractor or service. These units contain intricate parts and complicated systems, and trying to take tune-ups into your own hands can be difficult or even lead to damaging your unit. To avoid damaging your unit further, leave the inspections and tune-ups to the professionals.
If you’re looking for HVAC tune-ups in the Morris County area of New Jersey, you don’t need to look far for a trusted service provider. Turn to 1st Goal Heating and Cooling for HVAC maintenance services, including inspections, tune-ups, and more. Our team of professional contractors can help you get your HVAC unit tuned or provide needed repairs just in time for the seasonal changes. We’ll help ensure your home remains comfortable throughout even the most extreme seasons and weather. Learn more about our residential services or schedule an appointment through our website today.
There’s nothing better than going into a new season with the peace of mind that your HVAC unit will keep your indoor temperature comfortable. If it’s been some time since your home’s last HVAC tune-up, now is the time to schedule your appointment before the weather really starts to turn. As temperatures drop throughout the northeast, more homes will start relying on their heaters. Now that you know what to expect during your home’s HVAC tune-up, you can confidently schedule your own maintenance services with 1st Goal Heating and Cooling. Learn more about our heating and cooling services today.
