Your heating and cooling system is not one piece of equipment. It’s several pieces working together to create comfortable temperatures and clean indoor air. Your HVAC tune-up is important because one faulty component can affect performance and decrease comfort.
When technicians provide preventive maintenance for HVAC systems, we balance everything back to manufacturer specifications. We optimize airflow, check refrigerant charge, clean heat exchanger surfaces, and test electrical components. Regular tune-ups keep your system performing efficiently, improving comfort and reducing breakdowns.
How HVAC Systems Condition Air
Comfort begins with understanding how heating and cooling equipment works. You have an indoor evaporator coil and an outdoor condenser. Systems with heat pumps have two coils and a reversing valve to change cooling and heating functions.
Conditioned air is moved throughout the building through ductwork by a blower fan. Furnaces add heat through combustion or electric heating elements. Proper HVAC maintenance and cleaning ensures these components all work together for steady comfort.
Key components of your system include:
- compressor and condenser
- evaporator coil
- expansion device or capillary tubing
- blower motor and ductwork
- thermostat and electrical controls
Cooling equipment is generally designed to move 400 cubic feet of air per minute (CFM) per ton. If airflow decreases, system efficiency will drop and comfort suffers. Similarly, if ducts are leaky, up to 30% of heated or cooled air can escape.
Technologies like variable-speed blowers and inverter compressors help systems maintain more consistent temperatures with less variation, often within 1 or 2 degrees when operating properly.
Why HVAC Tune-Ups are Important
We perform HVAC tune-ups to restore the comfort and efficiency your equipment was designed to deliver. Service includes checking refrigerant levels, tightening electrical connections, cleaning coils, testing safety controls and measuring airflow.
Airflow that doesn’t meet specifications can lower comfort and efficiency by 5 to 20%. One dirty coil can reduce a system’s ability to transfer heat by 10 to 30%.
Salmon HVAC designs HVAC tune-ups to answer two questions: How is your system performing right now? What can we do to prevent problems from occurring in the future?
Temperature Consistency
When airflow is restored to design specifications and thermostats are calibrated, spaces should maintain set temperatures more precisely. One of the benefits homeowners notice after a tune-up is more consistent comfort.
In particular, you may notice:
- Less temperature fluctuation
- Quicker recovery times
- Reduced humidity swings
- Improved airflow balance
Temperature and humidity swings typically decrease when HVAC equipment is operating properly. That’s because the system no longer has to struggle to overcome airflow imbalance or refrigerant issues.
Clean air is another benefit of regular maintenance. Indoor air quality can improve when HVAC systems are functioning properly. During tune-ups, we:
- Replace or check filters
- Clean evaporator coils
- Clear drainage lines
- Check HVAC humidity levels
Clean filters help reduce dust and allergens in the air. Balancing humidity to 40-50% also helps keep home comfort high and allergies in check.
Air filtration and indoor humidity are two areas homeowners often see improvement in after tune-ups.
Fewer Breakdowns
When you spend less money on repairs, you can better maintain your budget. Routine maintenance can mean the difference between replacing a $150 component and a $3,500 compressor.
HVAC systems have several components that wear out over time. Fans motors, run capacitors, and contactors often fail, but these can be addressed before causing bigger problems.
Service technicians perform checks on:
- refrigerant pressures
- electrical voltages
- motor amp draws
- airflow volumes
These tests can expose developing issues before they lead to emergency breakdowns. Replacing parts before they fail minimizes the chance your system will crash during peak heating or cooling seasons.
Longer Service Life
Just like your car, HVAC systems require routine maintenance to prevent expensive repairs and prolong service life. With annual maintenance, systems can last 15-20 years. Without maintenance, systems often fail several years earlier.
Lubricating parts, tightening electrical connections, and other tune-up tasks reduce stress on critical components. If you extend the service life of your equipment by just three years, you save the cost of buying and installing an entire system down the road.
Yearly inspections and tune-ups also extend your manufacturer warranty. Many require annual maintenance to keep the warranty valid.
How Many HVAC Tune-Ups per Year?
Ideally, homeowners should have two HVAC tune-ups per year. One appointment should be scheduled just before the cooling season and one before the heating season begins. Tune-ups for heat pumps should occur in spring and fall.
One of the best ways to ensure your HVAC system stays tuned up is to enroll in a maintenance program. Salmon HVAC has several options that include flexible payment options. Service agreements give you convenient, priority service and often save you money on repairs.
HVAC Repair and Tune-Up Experts
As you research HVAC companies, confirm they’re licensed and insured. Look for technicians with EPA Section 608 certification. Technicians should also be NATE certified.
Salmon HVAC recommends finding a contractor who will provide you with a detailed checklist of what was completed during your service call. You should also ask for cooling and heating system performance data after service is completed. Find out how Salmon HVAC can improve your indoor comfort by requesting an estimate today.
Wrapping it up
Ideally, your HVAC equipment should have two tune-ups per year. These tune-ups keep your system operating properly and improve efficiency. If your home has never had a tune-up before, the difference will be noticeable.
Not only will you feel more comfortable in your home, but your system will run more reliably. There will be fewer chances of your system breaking down when you need it most.
Bonus: Don’t forget your annual tune-up for your filter too!
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FAQ
Q1: What happens during HVAC maintenance?
A: Filter inspection or replacement, coil cleaning, refrigerant charge verification, amperage draw testing, thermostat calibration, safety control testing, measuring airflow and comfort system testing are all part of a HVAC tune-up.
Q2: Do HVAC systems need to be serviced yearly?
A: We recommend annual maintenance for most homes. However, some homes benefit from more frequent HVAC maintenance and tune-ups.
Q3: Can HVAC maintenance save you money?
A: HVAC maintenance can save you money on utility bills. Proper airflow and refrigerant charge can increase HVAC efficiency by up to 15%.
Q4: Do HVAC Tune-Ups prevent breakdowns?
A: Regular HVAC maintenance and tune-ups can reduce the chance of breakdowns. Maintenance visits find worn components before they cause bigger problems.
Q5: Should I have my HVAC system serviced every year?
A: Maintenance plans offer the best value for homeowners. Systems run more efficiently and you save money on repairs because you don’t have to worry about scheduling. Most homes only need 2 maintenance calls per year.
