If you have recently had your home's HVAC system installed or repaired, there is a good chance that the contractor who performed this work recommended the use of their annual maintenance services. Unfortunately, if you are like many homeowners, you may have allowed this important recommendation to go in one ear and out the other. This is because many homeowners simply assume that unless their heating and air conditioning unit is showing signs of distress, there really is no reason to spend money on professional maintenance services.

However, the truth is these services can play a huge role in keeping your home's heating and cooling system up and running, and in keeping more of your hard earned money in your pocket where it belongs. Below you will learn about just a few of the ways in which these annual services can accomplish these goals for you.

Improving Energy Efficiency

Have you noticed that your heating and cooling costs have begun to rise slowly each month? If so, the problem may not be the age of your system or the drafts in your home. The problem may simply be that your HVAC system is dirty and is therefore unable to circulate air in an effective manner. When this system struggles to pull in enough air from around your home, it will inevitably consume more energy in an attempt to get the job done.

As part of your annual maintenance, your HVAC contractor will clean your entire heating and cooling system, including your coils and condenser units. This will allow air to flow more freely through your heating and cooling system and ultimately allow the system to operate more efficiently. Not only can this help to save you money each month on your energy bills, but it can also help to minimize the chances of you spending money on repairs in the near future.

Protecting Your Warranty

Most heating and air conditioning systems are sold with a rather lengthy warranty through the manufacturer. In many cases, these warranties will have an expected life of 10, 15, or even 20 years. Oftentimes, homeowners will simply assume that this expected lifespan is set in stone and that no matter what happens, they will be covered for this period of time. However, this is not the way manufacturer warranties work.

The purpose of a manufacturer warranty is to safeguard you against any repair costs that result from faulty parts or poor craftsmanship. In order to ensure that the manufacturer does not end up paying for repairs that could have been avoided, these warranties will typically contain several clauses that allow for the warranty to be voided if you fail to follow the manufacturer's recommendations when installing or maintaining the system.

If you file a claim against your warranty, the first thing the warranty company will ask you for is proof of maintenance. If you are unable to provide this documentation, your claim will be denied. Having your HVAC system maintained by a professional like United Heating Cooling and Plumbing Inc once a year will ensure that you can always produce this documentation and that your warranty remains intact.