Spring in Bellingham is the perfect time to schedule HVAC maintenance. Your system just went through several months helping you stay warm and cozy through cold temperatures, and it needs some TLC. Although the city’s average July high is only about 72 degrees Fahrenheit, reliable cooling is important. This is especially true for the days when there are abnormal temperature spikes. Understanding why the season is ideal for an AC tune-up can help you make informed decisions for your home.
Beat the Warm-Weather Rush
Summer is usually a busy time for HVAC technicians, so calling in the spring helps you beat the rush. It’s a good idea to contact us in late winter to schedule the appointment. This provides you with more scheduling availability to increase the chances of getting your preferred date and time. You’ll also have time to book follow-up repairs or replacements, if they’re necessary, ensuring they’re done before the warm weather arrives. Before scheduling a spring tune-up, make sure to ask us about our Marr’s Advantage Plan.
Prevent the Need for Emergency Repairs
No homeowner wants to deal with urgent HVAC issues. Preventing them is the best course of action, and HVAC tune-ups can help. Proactive maintenance and standard repairs are much more cost-effective than emergency appointments. Homeowners usually need emergency services in extreme circumstances, which often means booking the first available appointment. Unfortunately, it might not be convenient for your schedule. For example, if there’s a serious water leak or burning smell from your unit in the middle of the night, you may have to sacrifice hours of sleep to handle the situation.
Prevent Costly Breakdowns
During the HVAC appointment, our technicians perform a wide range of tasks, including cleaning components, conducting safety checks, and calibrating the thermostat. We also conduct a comprehensive inspection, assessing the entire system. Identifying minor problems and addressing them promptly keeps them from escalating into severe ones that lead to complete system breakdowns.
Extend the System’s Lifespan
If HVAC problems become severe enough that they’re no longer fixable, you may have to replace the system. With proper care and maintenance, your HVAC system could last between 15 and 20 years. Tune-ups allow technicians to notice problems in their early stages and address them promptly, which can help the unit last longer. Considering new units typically cost thousands of dollars, it’s vital to do what you can to extend the lifespan of the one you already have. This includes scheduling an appointment every spring to make sure your AC is working optimally.
Improve Energy Efficiency
Many of the tasks HVAC technicians perform during tune-ups, such as calibrating the thermostat, are designed to improve energy efficiency. Other ones that can help include cleaning components, replacing the air filter, checking refrigerant levels, and lubricating moving parts.
Any issues usually put strain on the HVAC unit. This means it’s using excess energy to work harder than necessary, trying to reach your preferred temperature. Not only is this causing added stress on the system, but it’s also raising your utility bills in the process. By boosting the system’s efficiency, you may see a reduction in utility costs.
Improve Indoor Air Quality
One of the most important tasks we do during HVAC tune-ups is actually one of the simplest: filter replacement. We take out the current filter, put in a clean one, and position it properly. They trap contaminants, such as pet dander and dust, preventing a significant amount of them from circulating throughout your air. Filters also help prevent them from building up on your unit’s components, which could strain the system, potentially leading to inefficiency and overheating. Our team also cleans the components, which further helps improve indoor air quality.
Ensure Comfort for Entertaining
Spring is one of the most beautiful seasons in Bellingham. It’s a great opportunity to have people over, even if you’re hosting them outdoors. However, it’s important to have a properly functioning HVAC system in case you decide to take the party inside. You don’t want to turn the system on to notice foul, musty odors or hear screeching noises. Booking an AC tune-up early in the season ensures that the system will function correctly for both you and your guests.
Can I Skip AC Maintenance in Bellingham?
Some Bellingham homeowners feel that spring AC tune-ups aren’t necessary because temperatures don’t usually get hot in the region. However, that doesn’t mean it can’t happen. It’s much better to be prepared in case hot temperatures arrive than to wish you were, such as if you turn your system on and no cool air comes out. Additionally, if the area gets hit with hot temperatures, many homeowners will likely try to book the soonest possible time slot. Getting your tune-up done in early spring means you have access to more dates and times and won’t have to settle for just any available appointment.
What Maintenance Tasks Can I Do Myself During Spring?
We strongly recommend leaving the majority of the HVAC maintenance tasks to the professionals. However, there are some easy tasks that homeowners can do in between expert tune-ups. For example, you can change your air filter every three months. If there are smokers, children, health-compromised individuals, pets, or seniors in the home, replacing it more frequently is best. Additionally, you can also conduct visual self-inspections. At least once a month, check your HVAC system, paying close attention to any abnormal behaviors, such as banging sounds, leaks, or musty odors. Contact us right away instead of attempting to locate the source of the problem and fix it yourself.
Clearing around the HVAC’s condenser is another easy task. There should be five feet of vertical clearance and two feet of horizontal clearance on all sides to allow for proper airflow. There shouldn’t be anything on top. Relocate furniture, coolers, or other items, and remove any greenery, such as ivy or grass, from around the system.
Is Air Duct Cleaning Part of a Standard Tune-Up?
Our technicians visually inspect the air ducts during a standard spring tune-up appointment. They look for problems like gaps, corrosion, or other physical damage, but air duct cleaning isn’t included. However, if it’s been at least a few years since you’ve had one, you should consider scheduling an appointment. You can request that the technicians perform both the air duct cleaning and spring HVAC tune-up simultaneously.
The service offers numerous benefits, including improving indoor air quality, easing strain on your HVAC unit, and helping to extend the system’s lifespan. It’s particularly beneficial for allergy sufferers, as cleaning removes significant build-up, such as dead insects, dust, mold spores, pet dander, and human hair.
Make sure you’re cool and comfortable during spring. Marr's Heating, AC, Plumbing and Electrical in Bellingham, WA, provides high-quality HVAC services to local homeowners. Call us today to schedule an appointment.
