Emergency services
Knowing how and when to care for the HVAC equipment in your Cape Coral, FL home is key to extending its lifespan and optimizing its efficiency. With the right maintenance schedule, you can limit your risk of heating and cooling emergencies, cut your home energy bills, and enjoy year-round comfort. The following is everything you need to know about setting the right HVAC service schedule.
Annual Tune-up Service
All heating and cooling equipment types require professional service at least once each year. This includes oil-fired, gas-fired, and electric furnaces, air conditioners, boilers, and heat pumps. The best time to schedule this service is right before a unit’s high-demand season. For instance, you should have your air conditioner tuned up in mid to late spring and your heater tuned up in late fall or early winter.
Doing so allows our HVAC technicians to spot and resolve minor problems before they spiral out of control. It also limits the likelihood of mid-season repair issues and promotes a higher, healthier indoor air quality (IAQ).
Stay Warranty-Compliant With Annual Tune-up Service
All heaters and ACs come with manufacturer warranties. These mutually binding agreements cover the costs of replacing or repairing equipment that’s been damaged due to manufacturer errors. Whether your HVAC system shuts down due to defective parts or improper assembly, your warranty should cover it. However, to maintain the protections supplied by HVAC equipment manufacturer warranties, you must schedule annual maintenance service.
Failing to comply with the basic maintenance requirements of manufacturer warranties can result in frustrating claims delays or outright claims denials. It can also cause these agreements to be voided entirely.
Twice-Annual Tune-up Service
While many homeowners throughout the nation use heat pumps as efficient alternatives to air conditioners, some use them for year-round temperature control. The temperate winter climate of Cape Coral is perfect for heating a home with a heat pump. If you use your heat pump throughout all four seasons, you’ll need to have it serviced twice each year rather than just once annually. You should schedule heat pump maintenance in spring and again in autumn or early winter for consistently excellent performance.
HVAC Air Duct Maintenance
HVAC ductwork is an important part of your HVAC system. During heater and AC tune-up services, we check air ducts for loose connections, holes, and other air leaks. These brief inspections ensure that decreases in the health and integrity of ducting don’t adversely affect HVAC performance.
However, you should still schedule separate air duct maintenance service at least once each year. These services allow for more rigorous and thorough testing of air ducts, air handlers, blower motors, and other aspects of HVAC air distribution systems.
HVAC Air Duct Cleaning
You don’t have to schedule HVAC air duct cleaning annually to remain compliant with manufacturer warranties or ensure optimum HVAC performance and efficiency. However, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) does recommend cleaning these features on an as-needed basis.
Following Major Pest Infestations
You should always schedule duct cleaning service after successfully treating a major pest infestation. Pests frequently use air ducts as transit highways and for basic shelter. Professional duct cleaning will remove exoskeletons, wings, fur, feces, food, and all other detritus that these unwanted guests leave behind.
Post-infestation duct cleaning service can additionally include the application of high-grade sanitizing solutions and deodorizing agents. In addition to eliminating unpleasant odors and dangerous pathogens, these applications eliminate pheromones and other attractants so that pest problems don’t quickly resurge.
After Completing Major Home Renovations
If you recently added a new bedroom, finished your basement, or knocked down a wall, you should probably schedule duct cleaning service. Interior remodeling projects like these kick up lots of dust and other particulate matter. Duct cleaning will extract all micro-fine debris that has either bypassed your HVAC air filter, been blown off it, or entered your ducting in other ways.
During or After Mold Treatment
If you’re currently battling a mold infestation or have recently had mold treated in visible areas, now is a good time to clean your HVAC air ducts. Although your HVAC system is one of your most important allies in protecting and improving your IAQ, it can actually work against you when it comes to fighting mold. Without professional duct cleaning, your HVAC system could continue harboring and distributing mold pores indefinitely.
Whenever Your Indoor Air Quality Plummets
If you’re up to date with all other HVAC equipment maintenance but your indoor air quality is consistently low, you should have your air ducts cleaned. While the EPA recommends scheduling these services as needed, the National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA) recommends scheduling duct cleaning every two to three years.
Caring for Integrated HVAC System Accessories
Many homes have whole-house air purifiers, dehumidifiers, air scrubbers, or media filters for supplementary humidity control or IAQ support. Integrated HVAC accessories like these are installed in or attached to HVAC air ducts. When having your air ducts professionally serviced, make sure to have these secondary units serviced, too. Depending upon which type of equipment you own, you may even find that your integrated accessories require filter changes or other professional maintenance every three to six months.
Scheduling HVAC Service for Your Thermostat
Your thermostat functions as the brains of your entire HVAC system. It tells your heater and air conditioner when to turn off and on. Many smart thermostats also monitor HVAC performance and energy use, report performance issues, and send out helpful alerts for filter changes among other things.
We inspect, test, and calibrate thermostats during annual heater and AC tune-up services. However, if you add new heat-generating appliances to your home, cut down major sources of shade, or make other significant changes to your property, you may want to schedule additional thermostat service separately. This way, we can ensure that your thermostat is in an acceptable area and that it’s not getting inaccurate temperature readings due to heat from outside sources.
What to Expect During Annual Heater and AC Maintenance
We streamline our annual tune-up services to reflect the unique nuances and needs of every heater, heat pump, and AC model. In general, we:
- Check and change HVAC air filters
- Clear condensate drains and drain lines
- Replace worn and damaged parts
- Test failsafe measures
- Tighten loose connections
We thoroughly clean HVAC equipment both inside and out, lubricate moving components, inspect exhaust vents, and test all electrical connections. These and many other efforts remove airflow obstructions, minimize energy waste, and slow or reverse age-related wear. They also ensure safe HVAC operation and modest, manageable heating and cooling costs.
How an HVAC Preventative Maintenance Plan Can Help
Taking great care of modern heating and cooling equipment isn’t always cheap. Fortunately, you can cut your maintenance costs while still giving each HVAC equipment type the professional care it needs. For a low upfront or monthly cost, HVAC preventative maintenance plans offer one to two covered service visits each year, discounted parts, priority repair scheduling, and many other high-value benefits.
We make it easy for homeowners in Cape Coral, FL to remain warranty-compliant. We offer competitive pricing, solid guarantees, and access to cutting-edge HVAC technologies. You can count on us for expert heating, cooling, plumbing, and indoor air quality services. To find out about our preventative maintenance plans or schedule an appointment, contact 865 HVAC today!
