Annual HVAC maintenance may feel like an expense you can easily skip, especially if your home’s system is relatively new. However, skipping annual HVAC maintenance is often costly. Here is a look at the hidden costs that tend to come from ignoring HVAC maintenance.
Reduced Efficiency
Heating and cooling systems require annual tune-ups to maximize their efficiency. This is true even if your home’s HVAC system is brand-new. In a typical year, an HVAC system that goes without maintenance will see a 5% decline in efficiency. That figure keeps compounding over additional years without maintenance, quickly leading to more expensive utility bills.
Notably, dirty filters and air conditioning coils will make your system significantly more inefficient. By reducing airflow, a clogged filter can easily impact system efficiency. Dirty AC coils can cause an even larger problem, having the potential to diminish efficiency by as much as 40%.
Given that HVAC operating costs for a typical household can be $2,000 or more per year, the cost of inefficiency adds up quickly. Even the conservative estimate of a 5% reduction in efficiency means that after three years, you might be looking at annual losses of at least $300.
Equipment Strain
HVAC maintenance does a lot to reduce the strain on your system’s components. Our technicians lubricate moving parts, replace filters, test and charge refrigerant lines, clear clogged drain lines, and clean coils. If a qualified professional doesn’t handle these needs annually, the strain on components like the system compressor and the heat exchanger will grow. Replacing the compressor even once in a cooling system’s lifespan can cost thousands of dollars, and a heat exchanger replacement is only slightly less expensive.
Components must work harder inside a poorly maintained HVAC. With restricted airflow, the blower motor may work 40% harder to achieve the desired level of heating and cooling. Refrigerant pressure levels can change, leading to compressor damage. Likewise, the thermostat will likely rely on your heating and cooling systems more often, causing wear and tear throughout the system. This can be costly over the lifetime of your equipment.
Clearing the condensate drain is a notable money saver. A clogged drain can cause a significant backup of water. Not only might you have to pay to repair damaged HVAC equipment, but you could end up with water damage throughout your house if the clog leads to flooding. Water damage repairs can easily run into tens of thousands of dollars. Mold remediation can be expensive and involved and is a concern when moisture is present.
Shortened Equipment Lifespan
A neglected HVAC system’s lifespan can be dramatically shorter than what is expected. With proper maintenance, many HVAC units deliver 15 to 25 years of service. Many will operate beyond that timeframe. Extreme neglect can shorten an HVAC’s lifespan to eight years or less. A shortened HVAC lifespan may mean that you don’t make back what you invest into the system in cost savings before you must replace it.
A shorter system lifespan also introduces uncertainty into your life. Regular HVAC maintenance reduces the possibility that an unexpected breakdown will occur at the worst possible time. For example, a poorly maintained system could break down in the middle of a major heat wave. You may end up paying for emergency services, potentially adding significant costs of replacing your HVAC prematurely.
Voiding Your HVAC’s Warranty
If your HVAC is still under warranty, don’t assume that the manufacturer will cover the replacement cost if you didn’t properly maintain the unit. Many manufacturers now require evidence of annual inspections before they pay a claim on an HVAC warranty. The homeowner must demonstrate a good-faith effort to stay current with tune-ups, filter changes, and other forms of maintenance. Otherwise, the manufacturer may reject a warranty claim. This work must be performed by an experienced professional.
Our technicians always provide customers with detailed records of which systems we checked, what tests we performed, and how we assessed the life expectancy of your system. These records are especially useful in supporting a warranty claim for your HVAC system.
Reducing Your Home’s Resale Value
Prospective home buyers typically work with a professional inspector to examine several areas of a home before making an offer. One of the biggest targets of scrutiny is a home’s HVAC system. No one wants to be responsible for replacing a neglected HVAC system, and all buyers will expect a significant discount for taking on the risk.
If an HVAC system has suffered neglect for years, expect the reduction in resale value to be noticeable. Once the neglect has reached the point that replacement will be presumptive upon purchase, expect the loss of resale value to at least match the replacement cost.
Considering Home Insurance Parameters
It’s important to consider your homeowner’s insurance. Neglecting your HVAC equipment for years may render this part of your house entirely uninsurable. Even if your insurer is comfortable taking on the additional risk, expect them to demand a premium to offset the risk.
Poor Indoor Air Quality
Poor system performance often leads to unhealthy indoor air quality. This can adversely affect the health of all the people living under your roof. The people in your home who contribute to the household income may miss work due to poor indoor air quality. Common symptoms people experience from poor IAQ include headaches, fatigue, and dizziness. This can easily add up to hundreds of dollars in lost earnings. Additionally, treatment costs for recurring illnesses and symptoms can have a substantial impact on your finances, even with health insurance. The costs may be radically worse if a household member has a respiratory issue, such as asthma, COPD, or allergies, that responds badly to poor indoor air quality.
Poor HVAC performance can lead to mold and high humidity levels. Mold can accumulate on interior components and reduce system efficiency. Likewise, high humidity makes heating or cooling the air more costly. Extreme cases of high humidity can even destroy a home’s structure by warping the wood or causing it to rot.
Time Losses
Every HVAC breakdown takes precious time from your schedule. You must take time to allow our technicians into your home, for example. Likewise, you must take time to discuss potential solutions. This can be stressful, especially if a breakdown hits in the middle of the night or during extreme weather. Scheduling annual maintenance gives you more control over these disruptions.
Schedule Your HVAC Tune-Up Today!
Premier Heating and Air employs NATE-certified technicians who know how to keep HVAC units running well for many years. We offer free consultations, and our customers’ satisfaction is always guaranteed. Our BBB-accredited company has an A+ rating. We have also won the American Standard Award for Building a Higher Standard. Customers regularly leave excellent reviews for us online, too. We offer monthly HVAC memberships that keep your home comfort systems in top shape.
Our company works on many kinds of heating systems, including furnaces and heat pumps. You can also ask us about air conditioning installation, repair, and maintenance needs.
Keep your Greenwood Village, CO home’s HVAC system in top shape by scheduling regular maintenance with Premier Heating and Air today.
