Many homeowners might see preventive maintenance as merely an added expense, but it’s actually a simple way for you to save on repair costs and your energy bill, breathe cleaner air, improve indoor comfort, protect your home and even help the environment, and all it requires is a relatively small investment.

In fact, it’s not expensive at all compared to what you would have to spend for a replacement when your HVAC deteriorates prematurely. Say a unit costs $10,000 and has a rated service life of 10 years. With proper care, it will surely reach that lifespan, leaving you to spend $10,000 when it’s time to replace again.

Without proper care, however, an HVAC unit will not make the most of its service life, needing replacing after just five years. That’s $10,000 you have to spend before the ideal time and $10,000 from the previous purchase that you weren’t able to take full advantage of.

What You Can Do

It’s always a good idea to enlist a professional to do preventive maintenance on your HVAC system. As experts, they know what problems to look for and how to address them, ensuring they don’t worsen and cause bigger issues for you down the line. However, there are also things you can do as a homeowner, including:

Keeping air conditioning and heating units free of grass, leaves, and pollen.
Clearing two feet of space around outdoor units.
Replacing air filters regularly (at least every 90 days).
Investing in better air filters.
Turning off the water to the furnace humidifier during summer.
Turning on the water and replacing the humidifier filter in the fall.
Preventing clogs in AC condensate drain with a bleach-water mixture.
Ensuring outdoor AC is on firm, level ground.

Your HVAC system greatly affects your experience living in your home, so caring for it is one of the best investments you can make for your property. To ensure your maintenance efforts yield the best results, make sure you only work with a reputable HVAC expert in your area.