With summer about to end, it’s only a matter of time until the cold season begins. As you trade your AC for heat pumps or furnaces, understand that you need to have them inspected and tuned before heavy and prolonged use. Here’s why it’s essential to have this scheduled ahead of the colder months.

Why Are Annual Inspections Necessary?

Apart from ensuring that your heat pumps or furnaces are up and running, routine maintenance and inspection provide the following benefits to you and your pockets.

• Greater energy efficiency: As with any mechanical system, regular upkeep ensures that your heating equipment is running at peak efficiency all the time. Dirty filters and loose or failing parts can cause heat pumps or furnaces to work harder and become less efficient.

• Lower energy consumption: Heating accounts for much of a home’s energy costs, so it’s only practical to find ways to reduce these. Well-maintained heating equipment consumes less energy and translates to lower utility bills.

• Longer life span: Annual inspections allow technicians to detect and fix issues at their early stages. They can prevent problems from worsening, which may require costly, extensive repairs and lead to premature equipment failure.

• Improved comfort: A heat pump or furnace can only keep you warm and toasty throughout the colder months if it’s functional and efficient. The only way to ensure that it can handle what you require is to have it inspected by a professional.

What Happens During an Inspection?

Most HVAC contractors consider the time before winter as their off-peak season, which means they can accommodate you any time. During the inspection, they will have a checklist of tasks to ensure they cover everything.

They will examine electrical connections, test voltage, lubricate moving components, clean the condensate drain, and check the air filters. They will also run the system for a couple of start-up and shutdown cycles to identify possible operational issues with your heat pump or furnace.

There are also a few tasks you can do to maintain your heating system, such as cleaning or replacing the clogged, dirty filters and removing obstructions around the equipment. However, these tasks are no substitute for ensuring that your heating system is energy-efficient and in optimal running condition.

Schedule an inspection for your heat pumps or furnaces ahead of the cold season with the team from Wilson Heating & Cooling. Based in Lexington, SC, they have been providing quality heating and cooling services, such as HVAC maintenance, repairs, and installations, throughout the Midlands area since 1978. Call (803) 996-3322 to request an estimate on HVAC services or learn more about them online.