The Real Benefit of HVAC Maintenance is in the Numbers: How to Save Thousands

save money with hvac maintenance

Consider this for a moment:

The average cost of an HVAC maintenance visit is under $100.

The cost of replacing an HVAC system can be as much as $12,000.

That’s a huge difference. Here’s the really shocking thing though: the leading cause of “total HVAC failure,” i.e., systems that require replacement, is lack of maintenance. Many homeowners have been shocked when they found out a total replacement was necessary—and it only feels worse when they realize that replacement was avoidable.

If you’d like to avoid paying more than you have to for unnecessary repairs or replacements, the time to schedule a checkup for your HVAC system is now. In today’s post, we’ll examine how often you should have maintenance appointments, how to prolong the lifespan of your HVAC system, and a few handy DIY tips that you can do all by yourself to keep things running smoothly.

Let’s cover the biggest cost-saving question first:

Why an Annual HVAC Inspection Saves Money in the Long Run (And Sometimes in the “Short Run”, Too)

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An HVAC inspection isn’t just the easiest path to preventative maintenance for your system—it also often results in substantial energy savings as well. Let’s unpack that.

The short term benefits of having an annual HVAC inspection are immediately noticeable: your energy bill will go down. This is because during the inspection, any minor problems reducing the efficiency of your system can be discovered and resolved. Things like obstructions, dirty air filters, and so on will be fixed. Your inspector can also make other helpful suggestions to increase your energy efficiency if necessary.

Considering that heating and cooling are responsible for half or more of the average homeowner’s energy costs, an annual inspection can pretty much pay for itself.

As for the long term, having an annual inspection means that you’re far less likely to experience any “catastrophic” failures. Major problems—or problems with the potential to become “major”—will be caught before they can get worse.

Having said that, there are lots of easy DIY maintenance tasks you can do yourself throughout the year between your annual inspections to keep your HVAC system in the best possible condition. Let’s take a moment and look through some of the most important things a homeowner can do to maintain their HVAC system themselves.

Easy, Affordable Ways to Prolong the Functional Lifespan of Your HVAC System

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In addition to an annual inspection, there are plenty of easy ways you can do a little DIY HVAC maintenance around the house. The easiest, and perhaps most important, is to regularly change your air filters. Check out our guide on the process in our post How to Replace the Air Filters For Your Air Conditioner and Furnace.

Next, maintain the vents throughout your home by checking for obstructions and ensuring that ventilation fans are working properly. Check the ventilation system inside the home, in the bathrooms, and—if it’s possible to do so safely—the roof ventilation.

Finally, give your ductwork a once over. Leaks in the ductwork can be an expensive problem, raising your energy bill by as much as 30% (especially in Northern Colorado with our warm summers and cold winters). Sealing minor leaks isn’t actually that tough. Take a look at our post [Solving an Expensive Problem: DIY Repair Guide to Fixing Leaky HVAC Ducts] (https://bestbuyheating.wpengine.com/solving-an-expensive-problem-diy-repair-guide-to-fixing-leaky-hvac-ducts/) to learn how to do it.

Other maintenance tasks and inspections you can do yourself will vary based on the type of equipment you have. For example, here are some tips about maintaining a heat pump during the winter.

It’s worth noting that all of these DIY projects are tasks that a professional HVAC maintenance team like ours can do for you. If you’re unsure of what to do or feel that it would be unsafe to handle on your own (e.g., getting up on a ladder to replace an air filter, for example), do the smart thing and call a professional.

Don’t Pay for Unnecessary Repairs: Schedule an HVAC Inspection Today

The real takeaway from today’s post is simple, yet very important for any homeowner who wants to save a bundle: schedule a service appointment with us today so that you can avoid massive costs and inconvenience. At the time of this writing, we’re in the middle of the coldest months here in Colorado, and you do not want your HVAC going down during this season—or any season for that matter.

If you have any questions, please feel free to call us at (970) 218-0414 or contact us online.

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