How Often Should HVAC Be Inspected?

Are you overdue for HVAC maintenance? Schedule service with Fast Air Repair by calling 352-290-7968.

Your HVAC unit plays a vital role in your indoor comfort. It removes pollutants from the air to prevent allergy symptoms and mold infestation, and adjusting the thermostat a couple of degrees can get you through a heat wave or a cold snap. 

An HVAC system is an investment, and it needs regular maintenance in order to last as long as possible. If you’ve been wondering, “How often should an HVAC system be inspected?” this post is exactly what you need. It will go over the details of an inspection, the signs you need to schedule service, and the benefits of regular HVAC maintenance.

When you need a trusted heating and air company in Reddick, FL, call Fast Air Repair. We offer 24-hour emergency service to keep you comfortable even if your unit breaks down late at night or during the weekend.

What Is an HVAC Inspection?

You can’t decide how often to schedule an HVAC inspection if you don’t know what it is in the first place. Let’s go over what’s involved in the service call so you know exactly what will happen when you decide to schedule maintenance.

Your HVAC system maintains a comfortable temperature in your home all year long. The components that keep your home cool in the summer are different from the components that keep it warm in winter. For that reason, your HVAC company may recommend separate inspections for the heating and cooling elements. 

As summer approaches, it’s wise to schedule maintenance before the first heat wave. That way, if something is wrong with your AC unit, you can arrange repair service before it gets too hot. The summer HVAC inspection includes: 

• Cleaning the evaporator coils and checking them for pin-sized holes that can cause refrigerant leaks
• Checking the refrigerant level and adding more if necessary
• Testing the condenser to make sure it runs as it should
• Replacing the filter to ensure your HVAC system can filter pollutants out of the air
• Testing the thermostat and recalibrating it to help your home reach an accurate temperature

As summer temperatures lower into fall, you can schedule HVAC services for your heating unit. The inspection process is similar but with a few differences:

• We check all parts for signs of damage, including your heat exchanger, thermocouple, and ignition. 
• We will make sure both the heating and defrost cycles work as they should. 
• We will remove visible dust from the return and air vents to improve your indoor air quality.

Signs You Need to Schedule Service

Your HVAC unit may show signs of distress that let you know it’s overdue for a professional inspection. Here are some things to watch out for so you can prevent a complete breakdown.

Inconsistent Temperatures

A working HVAC system provides a consistent temperature throughout your home. If some areas of your home are too cold and others are too warm, it’s a sign that a problem lurks within your unit.

Strange Noises

Sounds like rattling or vibrating could mean your HVAC unit has damaged components or that something has loosened, which could cause even bigger problems if left alone. The solution could be as simple as tightening a few loose screws, or it could be more complex, like replacing damaged parts that no longer stay in place.

Musty Odor

If you notice a bad smell near the vents, you probably have an overabundance of dust accumulating within your ductwork and the HVAC unit itself. If you don’t change the filter regularly, your unit can’t filter out dust, mold spores, and other pollutants, allowing them to build up within the system.

Non-Working Thermostat

Adjusting the thermostat by just one or two degrees should help your home get warmer or cooler, depending on your preferences. If you adjust the thermostat repeatedly and your home never reaches the desired temperature, your thermostat could need recalibration or repair.

Short-Cycling

Short-cycling is when your HVAC unit turns on and off repeatedly all day, driving up your energy bills without changing the temperature in your home. A typical cooling cycle should last about 15 minutes. Short-cycling could mean that damaged parts inside your unit are starting to overheat, causing the unit to turn off soon after it turns on.

Skyrocketing Energy Bills

When your HVAC system has damaged parts, a dirty air filter, or other unaddressed problems, it can’t work efficiently. If your monthly energy bills have skyrocketed, but your home never reaches the set temperature, you’re wasting money every month that you don’t schedule service. A well-maintained HVAC system uses less energy to keep your home comfortable, which you will see in lower energy bills.

Why Bother With HVAC Inspections?

Why schedule HVAC service if your unit seems to work fine? Can’t you just wait until it stops working? The truth is, scheduling preventive maintenance can help you save money in the long run and prevent you and your family from shivering in the cold or sweating all night in the heat.

When you ask yourself, “How often should an HVAC unit be inspected?” there are a few things to keep in mind. HVAC units can last over 10 years in good condition, but the individual parts are only designed to last two to three years. Replacing damaged parts along the way will extend the life of your HVAC unit and postpone the cost of replacing it for as long as possible.

Protect Your Warranty

You may think you don’t have to worry about regular inspections if your HVAC unit is under warranty. If you take a look at the fine print, you may discover the opposite is true. Many HVAC warranties require regular service. Ignoring that requirement could void your warranty, costing you hundreds or thousands in unexpected repair costs.

Increase Efficiency

An HVAC system gets 5% less efficient with every passing year unless you schedule annual service. Overall, a poorly maintained unit only lasts 50% as long as one that receives annual maintenance. 

Carbon Monoxide Prevention

For gas-powered units, regular inspection could be a matter of life or death. It’s not unusual for heating components to crack from extreme temperature changes. Undetected damage could lead to carbon monoxide poisoning.

Unlike other dangerous pollutants, carbon monoxide doesn’t have a smell to let you know it’s leaking into your home. Exposure can cause significant health problems or even death. Regular HVAC service, along with installing a carbon monoxide detector, is the best way to protect you and your family from carbon monoxide poisoning.

Stay Comfortable All Year With Reliable HVAC Service in Reddick

Scheduling an HVAC inspection at least once per year is a great way to protect your investment and help it last years longer than it would without regular service. During an inspection, our technician will inspect all parts for signs of damage, clean the unit, and replace the filter. If your HVAC unit makes a vibrating noise, has a musty smell, or doesn’t respond when you adjust the thermostat, those are all clues that you need to schedule an inspection as soon as possible to avoid expensive repair costs.

Our Reddick, Florida, team can answer all sorts of questions, including, “How often should an HVAC system be inspected?” If you want to upgrade your existing unit to work with an app on your phone, ask us about which smart HVAC systems we recommend for your home heating and cooling needs. Fill out our online contact form or call the Fast Air Repair team at 352-290-7968.