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Are Louisville HVAC Maintenance Plans Worth The Investment?


Heating and cooling systems are a vital part of any Louisville home. To keep this equipment running at its best, furnaces, air conditioners, heat pumps, and boilers need regular maintenance attention. Homeowners try to remember scheduling their preventive maintenance in the spring and fall to help prevent costly repairs and lower monthly utility bills, however, it’s always a struggle to actually book that service.

One sure way to provide necessary insurance for your HVAC system are HVAC maintenance plans. Heating and air conditioning maintenance plans provide mandatory tune-up visits at least twice a year to inspect your heating and cooling system, offer priority service in case of repairs or breakdowns, and other perks and discounts to save money.

Here at Jarboe’s Heating, Cooling & Plumbing, of course, we know annual maintenance plans for your heating and air conditioning system are important, but in this article, we’ll going to help you understand all of the benefits to HVAC service contracts.

Do HVAC Units Need Regular Maintenance?

Heating and cooling units are mechanical systems that have many working parts. As the system runs, these parts are impacted by wear and tear – it’s inevitable and part of normal system use. If left unchecked, damage caused by wear and tear mounts to cause performance issues, a decline in energy efficiency, and system breakdowns.

HVAC maintenance is the key to remedying wear and tear damage and protecting the home’s heating and cooling equipment!

How Often Is HVAC Maintenance Needed?

HVAC equipment manufacturers say HVAC maintenance should be performed annually for heating systems and cooling units. Some types of equipment need only one tune-up each year, while others require two – it depends on the system’s function.

  • Furnaces, air conditioners, and boilers need only one tune-up per year, as they either heat or cool the home.
  • Heat pumps, both air source and geothermal need two tune-ups each year because they both heat and cool.

It’s best to complete HVAC maintenance tune-ups before the start of the upcoming heating or cooling season to ensure your system is all ready to go when that first hot or chilly day arrives. Schedule cooling tune-ups for air conditioners and heat pumps in the early to late spring and schedule heating tune-ups for furnaces, boilers, and heat pumps in the early to mid-fall. 

If you’re running late, that’s ok! Don’t skip your annual tune-up, just go ahead and make sure to get one scheduled as soon as possible.

In addition to professional HVAC preventative maintenance service twice per year, other maintenance tasks should be performed periodically in between those service visits. These are the tasks you can do yourself, which covers essential cleaning of the system and testing vital components.

  • Air Filter Replacement – Should Be Checked Monthly and Replaced on a Schedule Appropriate for the Filter Type and Your Household
  • Exterior Unit Cleaning – Perform As Needed
  • Interior Unit Cleaning – Perform As Needed
  • Thermostat Battery Check – Test Batteries Monthly and Replace Them Every Six Months or As Necessary
  • Carbon Monoxide Detector Test – Test Function Monthly and Replace Batteries Every Six Months

What Are HVAC Maintenance Plans All About?

The purpose of an HVAC preventive maintenance plan is to provide the TLC your heating and cooling units and their many components need to continue with reliable, energy-efficient operation all year long.

A tune-up is a service performed by a licensed HVAC professional which addresses the entirety of the system, from inspecting components for issues, verifying their performance, and providing the service required to keep each part in top shape.

All aspects of a service maintenance plan for HVAC systems work to deliver these advantages for homeowners:

  1. Improved Heating and Cooling Performance for Better Comfort
  2. More Energy-Efficient Operation for Lower Operating Costs
  3. Fewer and Less Serious System Malfunctions
  4. Enhanced System Longevity for Longer Service Life
  5. Preserved Warranty Coverage

Is It Worth It to Join an HVAC Maintenance Plan?

While the cost of HVAC maintenance is already amazingly low, you can save even more when you join an HVAC maintenance plan! Preventative maintenance agreement, maintenance service contract, maintenance membership – companies call these plans different names, but in general, they cover the 2 tune-ups a home’s HVAC system needs each year.

Typically, membership offers additional perks that allow you to access even further savings and advantages, such as:

  • Priority Scheduling for 24/7 HVAC Repair Calls
  • Extended Labor Warranties
  • Discounts on Diagnostic Services
  • Discounts on HVAC Repairs
  • Savings When You Buy New HVAC or Indoor Air Quality Products
  • And More!

While the various savings sure are nice, many homeowners choose to join HVAC maintenance plans because membership assures annual maintenance visits are taken care of. HVAC maintenance tune-ups are often overlooked and forgotten about, which can be detrimental to the performance and longevity of your system.

With priority scheduling, your HVAC company makes sure to get ahold of you when it’s time for a tune-up, so you don’t have to worry about making the call – or forgetting to.

Problems You May Avoid with Regular HVAC Maintenance

With so many working parts, there are a number of issues which can arise within a furnace, heat pump, or air conditioner. And with price tags on new HVAC equipment increasing as much as 30% due to new federal efficiency regulations, homeowners should be more inclined to keep their existing systems in good working condition. Luckily, many of these issues can be avoided with one simple service – a maintenance tune-up!

A maintenance agreement erases damage caused by wear and tear, so your system components don’t malfunction, and minor system issues can be identified and corrected before they develop into something that causes noticeable symptoms and serious repairs.

With regular HVAC maintenance tune ups, you’re more likely to prevent system issues such as:

  • Tripped Breakers
  • Thermostat Malfunctions
  • Blown Fuses
  • Ignition System Malfunctions
  • Overheating
  • Heat Exchanger Damage
  • Short Cycling
  • Poor Airflow
  • Poor Heat Transfer
  • Water Leaks

Does a Technician Need to Complete HVAC Maintenance?

A good HVAC maintenance strategy involves both professional tune ups and DIY tasks. The inner workings of a furnace, heat pump, boiler, or air conditioner are complicated and can be easily damaged by someone who isn’t experienced in working on such systems.

When it comes to the tasks covered by a professional HVAC maintenance tune up, it’s best to trust your technician to handle this side of your system.

What Does Maintenance for HVAC Service Contracts Look Like?

There are a number of steps included in the average HVAC maintenance tune up, as heating and cooling systems have many different components that are used to achieve the comfortable conditions you desire indoors.

While the actual steps may vary a little bit between different HVAC companies, in general they address all vital components of your system.

All HVAC units:

  • Verify Thermostat Function
  • Check Sequence of Operations
  • Examine Electrical Connections and Tighten if Needed
  • Lubricate Moving Parts
  • Inspect Disconnect Power Box
  • Inspect Breaker
  • Monitor Fan Control
  • Monitor Airflow and Adjust if Needed
  • Measure Amp and Volt Draw
  • Assess Temperature Rise and Drop
  • Inspect Capacitor and Contactors
  • Clean Exterior Cabinet

Furnaces and boilers:

  • Measure Carbon Monoxide Levels
  • Analyze Indoor Air Quality
  • Test Safety Controls Function
  • Inspect Sequencer
  • Inspect Burners and Ignition System
  • Check Gas Valve Operation
  • Assess Gas Line Connections
  • Measure Gas Pressure
  • Inspect Heat Exchanger or Heating Elements
  • Inspect Oil Nozzle and Filter, Replace Filter if Needed

Air conditioners and heat pumps:

  • Inspect Refrigerant Connections
  • Measure Refrigerant Charge
  • Inspect and Clean Condensate Drain
  • Clean Condenser Coil
  • Inspect Evaporator Coil
  • Assess Compressor and Terminals
  • Verify Operation of Reversing Valve and Defrost Control (for Heat Pumps)

Who Offers The Best HVAC Maintenance Plans in Louisville?

The obvious answer is Jarboe’s Heating, Cooling & Plumbing! If you’d prefer to leave the annual check up scheduling to us, ask about our True Comfort Membership, which includes your annual HVAC tune ups and so much more!

With our True Comfort Membership, you’ll receive:

  • Two Professional HVAC Maintenance Visits Per Year (One Heating Tune-up, One Air Conditioner Tune-Up)
  • One Professional Plumbing Maintenance Visit Per Year
  • Priority Service
  • Convenient Online Scheduling Tool
  • Courtesy Call Each Heating and Cooling Season
  • Two Year Parts and Labor Warranty on Repairs
  • 15% Discount on HVAC Repairs
  • 15% Discount on Plumbing Repairs
  • 15% Discount on Indoor Air Quality Solutions
  • 5% Discount on HVAC Equipment
  • 10% Discount on Plumbing Equipment
  • 15% Discount on Tankless Water Heaters
  • Complimentary Diagnostic with Repair
  • $20 Off Diagnostic without Repair
  • $5 Monthly Rewards Voucher (Applied to Future Home Comfort Improvements)

Learn more or sign up online today!

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