Some consumers still don't recognize the true value of air conditioning and furnace tune-ups. Dirt and neglect are leading causes of air conditioning system failure according to the EPA’s Guide to Energy-Efficient Heating & Cooling. Here’s what routine maintenance tune-ups are really all about:

1. Tune-ups are first and foremost about system longevity

The primary reason to have a HVAC tune-up is to keep your system running for as long as possible.

If properly maintained, a high quality, properly sized and expertly installed home comfort system should last more than 20 years. Improperly maintained however, any home comfort system, no matter how good the quality, may last less than 8 years before major repairs or a total replacement is needed. You could potentially double the lifespan of your HVAC system with proper maintenance. And that's only the beginning...

2. Maintenance means energy-efficiency

Over time, any engine or motor becomes less efficient through continuous use. Your home’s air conditioner alone may lose 5% of its original efficiency over each year of operation.

You can think of HVAC efficiency in terms of Miles per Gallon (MPG). By 'maintaining' your car with the recommended tire pressure, oil changes, and other engine tune-up procedures, its MPG is optimized. Your home's engine is the same. An air conditioning or furnace tune-up optimizes your home’s 'fuel' efficiency.

3. Future failures are costly

Think of routine maintenance as failure prevention.

If you take your car to get an oil change, one part of their service is usually to disclose current and potential problems discovered when inspecting the engine. Making affordable and necessary adjustments now that could save you a fortune in the future actually saves you money. A proper maintenance tune-up should include a complete visual System Inspection, and provide you documented system recommendations to prevent costly future problems.

Recommendations from NATE-certified HVAC technicians are an incredibly high value service. Great heating and cooling companies will always provide professional system recommendations, not as a way to sell you something, but as a necessary customer service to ensure the utmost safety and continued comfort for the homeowner and their family. After all, heating and cooling is simply about being completely comfortable in your home, all the time. Demand that your HVAC tune-ups be performed by NATE-certified technicians to receive the top value for your maintenance service.

Keep in mind that a professional A/C and heating tune-up is not the only maintenance step in proper comfort equipment care. Between tune-ups it's very important to change air filters at the recommended intervals, ensure that ducts are sealed properly and free up air vents from obstruction. These small measures also go a long way to help ensure your HVAC system operates at its full potential all year.