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How Often Should I Do HVAC Maintenance? Tips for Homeowners

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HVAC maintenance is an important task for any homeowner. HVAC stands for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning. It’s a term that encompasses both an air conditioner and a furnace, which are essential in any home. In fact, the HVAC system is one of the largest investments you’ll make in your home. So you need to keep it working for maximum efficiency. Regularly servicing your HVAC system will ensure that your air conditioner, furnace, and water heater are in good shape. It will also ensure that they continue to work when you need them most. Here are some ways to assure that your HVAC system is well-maintained so you can stay comfortable year-round.

Why You Should Service Your HVAC System Regularly

Below are some reasons why you should service your HVAC system regularly.

  • Regular servicing helps identify any potential problems before they arise. You can address them before they become more severe and costly than they would be otherwise. Replacing your HVAC system is expensive, so regular maintenance is essential to protecting the investment you’ve made.
  • Preventative maintenance will also help reduce your energy costs. A well-maintained heating and cooling system offers better efficiency and uses less energy than a poorly maintained one.
  • The best way to enjoy a comfortable indoor living space is with an HVAC system that operates efficiently. The HVAC system provides the optimum temperature for your home. And well-maintained systems are less likely to break down during peak hours so you and your family stay comfortable.
  • If your HVAC system is frequently serviced, it will last longer. With proper maintenance, the lifespan of your heating and cooling systems can be increased by up to four times. It’s important to have professionals help you maintain these systems because they have knowledge that you might not have. Professionals may also be able to find problems before they become more serious and costly.
  • Service your HVAC system on a regular basis to ensure that you have the best air quality in your home. A dirty HVAC system can create bacteria, allergens, and other contaminants in your indoor air. By servicing your HVAC system on a regular basis, you can help prevent this from happening. And if you’ve never had your HVAC system serviced before, it could be time to make an appointment!
  • We shouldn’t forget that HVAC systems have an impact on the environment. A serviced system uses less energy, which means you are using less waste and not impacting the environment as severely.

When and How Often to Schedule a Service Appointment

Depending on your HVAC system, service appointments should be scheduled every 12-18 months. But this time frame can change depending on the type of system you have.

For example, if you have a heat pump, it may need service every 6-12 months. If you have a gas furnace or condensing unit, it may need service every 18-24 months. A fuel oil furnace may need service once a year.

You should also check for signs that the system needs additional maintenance. These signs could include:

* Persistent noise coming from your HVAC system

* Frequent frosty windows in cold weather

* Unexpected fluctuations in temperature throughout your home

* A damp carpet or musty smell

If these issues persist after cleaning the filters and checking for clogs, book an appointment with a professional ASAP.

Other Important Factors in HVAC System Maintenance

The cost for HVAC repair and maintenance varies depending on the conditions and age of your system. Maintenance will also depend on the number of people living in your home. How often you use your heating and cooling equipment is also a factor

Older HVAC systems require more maintenance than newer ones because they use more energy. Older systems may also need to be replaced if they start making strange noises, shaking, or leaking.

Tips for HVAC Maintenance

  1. Have a professional come out at least twice per year for an inspection of your air conditioner, furnace, and water heater.
  2. Schedule an annual tune-up if you notice any problems with your air conditioner or a furnace.
  3. If you live in an area that experiences heavy snowfall, have a professional come out once per year to clear the snow from the unit. This is so it doesn’t overwork itself trying to compensate for lost heat from outside sources like sunlight or wind.

NEED AN HONEST HVAC PROFESSIONAL?

We hope this list of tips to maintain your HVAC system has been helpful. When you think about it, it’s a lot of responsibility to take care of a HVAC system on a regular basis. That’s why we have HVAC services on standby to help you with any repairs or maintenance needs. We know you have enough to worry about, so let us handle your HVAC service needs.

Do you need a professional HVAC companies near me to help with your HVAC system and perform honest, routine maintenance? You can always find help by searching for “HVAC companies near me,” but know that we are right here in Palo Alto and ready to help! HVAC maintenance is essential for many reasons. You could be breathing cleaner air, saving money, and enjoying greater peace of mind with a reputable company like Palo Alto Plumbing.

SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT WITH US TODAY

If you’re from Palo Alto and other nearby areas, choose Palo Alto Plumbing, Heating and Air for HVAC companies near me. We offer a variety of routine and essential services that include 24-hour emergency HVAC calls. For fast, reliable, and honest HVAC repair and maintenance, call us at 650-405-1460 or contact us here. We look forward to hearing from you.

 

How to Find the Best HVAC Company For Your Home or Business

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If you’re looking for reputable HVAC maintenance for your home or business, finding the best company can seem a little tricky, but we’re here to help! After all, there are plenty of companies that offer similar services and prices, but not all of them will provide you with the same level of customer satisfaction. That’s why it’s so important to do some research instead of making a hasty decision about which company to hire for the job. We’ve compiled a list of helpful tips below that will help narrow down your search when trying to find the best HVAC company.

Why HVAC Maintenance Matters

So you’re in the market for a new HVAC company? We’ve got all the info you need to find the best HVAC maintenance in town, whether it’s for your home or business. But first things first, why is maintenance so important?

Taking good care of your HVAC is essential to keeping a comfortable home or office environment. Your HVAC helps control the temperature and climate in your space. It also moderates the humidity and helps to purify the indoor air you breathe. Not to mention, if you don’t schedule regular HVAC maintenance for your system, it’s eventually going to break down. This is both stressful as well as costly. To make sure your HVAC is running properly all year long, it needs a little care once in a while. Fortunately, there are lots of useful maintenance tips and tricks that can help extend the life expectancy of your HVAC system. For example, changing its air filters on a regular basis, and performing routine inspections to make sure everything is in tip-top shape. Since its functions are so important to your health and comfort, you can see why hiring the best HVAC maintenance company matters so much.

Ask Questions

When you begin to consider your options, feel free to ask questions. This will help you find an expert who is best suited for your needs and budget. You can ask about a company’s experience and training, what’s included in their HVAC maintenance services, and anything else that comes to mind.

Experience

Be sure to find out how long the HVAC company has been in business as well as what kind of experience they have. It’s all right to ask them about their background and training. You may also want to request references for previous jobs they’ve done, too. This is an easy way to help you get an idea of the quality of their work before you decide if you want to hire them. This information is key to helping you decide which company to hire.

Licensed and Insured

It’s important that the HVAC company you choose is also licensed and insured, for a couple reasons. For one, it suggests a level of professionalism, and also that the company is committed to providing customers with high-quality services. This is because you need a certain level of training to get a license, regardless of the field. And second, insurance protects you against personal injury lawsuits if anything were to happen while they were on the job.

Browse Reviews

You should also research reviews before you hire an HVAC company to work in your home or business. It’s so easy to check Google that there’s really no reason not to. This way, you can quickly eliminate any companies with less than outstanding reviews. If you don’t read reviews, how can you be sure you’re hiring the best HVAC company?

Billing

It’s a good idea to request an estimate upfront, and also to find out what’s actually included in the service. An estimate of the total cost gives you a better idea of what you’re paying for before any work is even done. You can also ask for an itemized bill in writing, which will provide specifics about what you’re being charged for. An itemized statement is also a record of what was done during HVAC maintenance, so you have that information if you ever need it later. Keep in mind that cheaper is not usually better, but quotes can help you make a final selection, and help you determine the average cost in your area.

HVAC Maintenance Tips

Winter will be here before you know it, and that means that your HVAC system will soon be put to the test. It’s best to make sure it’s operating properly now in order to avoid problems later on when you really need your heater.

Here are some tips for preparing your system for the rainy winter months ahead:

  1. Clean or replace your air filters because we spend more time indoors during the winter, and heaters burn off a lot of dust when they’ve been sitting all year.
  2. Heaters dry out the air. Consider installing a high-quality humidifier to help keep your home or office more comfortable while the heater is running. This can help prevent dry, cracked skin, chapped lips, and even nosebleeds.
  3. Check the air ducts that carry hot air throughout your home or workplace. These should be clean, and there shouldn’t be any furniture blocking them.

The Bottom Line

Your HVAC system has some essential jobs to do, but it needs to be cared for on a regular basis. Yearly HVAC maintenance can save you time and energy in the long run by avoiding expensive breakdowns. On average, it takes about an hour each year, and the cost is much more affordable than waiting for a breakdown. It’s simply easier to schedule regular maintenance than it is to deal with HVAC repairs. All in all, making sure your system is properly maintained year-round is the best way to prevent an issue from happening, especially during the chill of winter.

Schedule HVAC Maintenance

We hope this blog post helped, and that you now feel confident in choosing a great HVAC company. If you need HVAC maintenance, give us a call at Palo Alto Plumbing Heating & Air by dialing 650-405-1460 today for all of your heating, air conditioning, and plumbing needs!

Can Your Air Conditioner Help Relieve Your Allergies?

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Allergies can be bothersome, not only in the spring but at any time of the year, as some allergens are always present in your home. During cooling season when all your windows and doors are shut, indoor allergens can become even worse. Fortunately, your HVAC system can help combat this problem.