If you live in Canada, chances are you’re quite familiar with the heater in the winter. While we may not think about the air conditioning quite as much, it’s hard to ignore how much warmer our summers have been as of late. All of this means that we’ve got to keep on top of the maintenance when it comes to our HVAC systems.
The trouble is, it’s not necessarily something that we can do all on our own. After all, most of us probably don’t know all of the signs that our HVAC is malfunctioning or broken. As you can see on pages like this one, there aren’t always easy answers as far as whether something needs repairs or not. That’s why calling in the pros can be a good idea.
Are Annual Appointments Really Necessary?
If you didn’t already know, a lot of contractors who work with heating, ventilation, and air conditioning recommend that we have our systems evaluated on a yearly basis to ensure that everything is working properly. Many people are somewhat skeptical of this, though, and have to wonder whether that is really necessary. It does feel somewhat like overkill to a certain extent.
That said, there are actually a surprising number of reasons that it actually is pretty important to have these yearly check-ins. Routine maintenance is standard for most machinery like this, after all. However, the main purpose is to catch any issues before they turn into emergencies.
So, that’s why a contractor might recommend that you schedule an annual visit just to check in on things. Ultimately, it’s up to you whether you do that sort of thing. However, there is a reason that it’s recommended.
What Can Go Wrong?
So far, we’ve talked a lot about how critical routine maintenance is, but not about what it’s there to help prevent. Unfortunately, there are a lot of ways in which an HVAC system can end up breaking or otherwise not working. Additionally, there are several components that could end up malfunctioning, making it even more difficult to notice at times.
Thermostats are one of the easiest things to notice going wrong, out of all of them. You can read a little bit more about it here, https://lpdd.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/progr23-20-3.pdf, if you’re curious. However, if you notice things like not being able to change the temperature through the thermostat, or that it starts blinking strangely or something like that, it’s hard to miss.
Something much harder to notice in comparison are the filters in your HVAC. If and when it gets dirty, it can end up hampering the ability of the system to actually ventilate the air in your home properly. Obviously, this is a big problem.
Thankfully, when it comes to those annual visits, usually the contractor will take a look at the filter and clean it out if necessary. You can also make a mental note to do this at least once every six months if you or someone in your home has a pre-existing condition like asthma that can be negatively affected by air quality. Getting the dust out of there can really help.
Refrigerant leaking is another culprit behind breakdowns in HVAC systems, but it is often much more difficult to notice than even the filters. That’s where professionals like Nation Heating can come into play. If you’re in Burnaby, you may already be familiar with them, so it’s worth looking into them if you suspect something like a refrigerant leak.
What if There’s an Emergency?
No one really wants to think too hard about what we should do in the case of an emergency, mostly because we dread that actually happening. Sadly, at some point down the line there’s bound to be a moment where our HVAC unit stops working for one reason or another. In places like Burnaby where it can get quite cold in the winter and quite warm in the summer, there’s even more danger of that occurring.
The fluctuations in temperature outside tend to mean that the inside of our homes will change in a similar way. Unfortunately, it can be taxing on a unit to have to rapidly shift between the two extremes all the time. It could eventually result in needing repairs.
When you do end up in an emergency situation like that, especially if it’s very hot or very cold outside and you need the heat or air conditioning to work, you might be tempted to try to DIY it at first. With how many websites there are out there trying to tell you how to turn almost anything into a do-it-yourself project, the temptation is certainly understandable.
However, as you can read about in this blog, it’s probably not a great idea to do that. There’s a high chance that you’ll unintentionally end up breaking the unit further since you don’t know all of the inner mechanics of it. If in doubt, you’ll want to call in the professionals.
There are a lot of contractors that offer emergency services, thankfully, especially when it comes to heating, ventilation, and air conditioning. When something goes wrong with those units it usually is critical, after all. So, they’ll be able to prioritize your case (usually for a small fee, but it’s worth it). Remember – even if you don’t always notice it, ACs and heaters often need some maintenance each year.