Biannual Heating and AC checkup (fireplace, furnace, insulation, gas)

[jazzcat22]

My husband was really into preventative maintenance, so we always had two checkups a year, one in spring and one in fall. I was getting ready to uphold this tradition since he died, but several people have informed me that they never do this. Is it a waste of money? I actually have a one year old system that is working fine. I did notice last time the HVAC guy was here he didn’t inspect the AC since we were going into winter. I don’t know..does Freon need to be topped off? Yes, I am clueless...and will appreciate your responses.

[K'ledgeBldr]

Preventative maintenance is a good practice for those that know absolutely nothing about HVAC. That being said, it's also a good idea to at least read up and understand how a system works. So, when a tech is giving you the low-down on the current status of your system, you're not a deer in headlights. But, it also means having a company/tech you can trust.

PM can definitely extend the operating life of a system.

[irootoo]

We have someone in to check the furnace and AC every August. We also have someone come in to clean and check our propane fireplace insert. Being that we live in Wisconsin, I just feel better knowing that all our systems are in good shape for the winter. To me, twice a year isn't necessary though.

[markjames68]

I always have a spring check up on my AC system to verify the refrigerant charge and to make sure all components look good.

A fall check would be for the furnace. I do that every other year as it’s gas and I change my own filters.

[reebo]

We do the twice/year check. My dad did too and he was tight with money.

[jazzcat22]

Thanks for your replies. They make me feel less weird about continuing these, even though I don’t seem to know too many people I.RL who do it.

[mmyk72]

I'm in the NE where heat is used 6 months and AC about 1 month out of 12. Furnace is gas forced air heating.
I've never done more than changing the filter every 3 months or sooner depending on the shade of grey on it.

I figure AC is used so rarely as long as cold air comes out of the register, it's fine. I replaced the insulation on the hose at the outside compressor since it looked chewed up.

[markjames68]

Originally Posted by jazzcat22

Thanks for your replies. They make me feel less weird about continuing these, even though I don’t seem to know too many people I.RL who do it.

In my area a tech costs $75 for an hour, which is enough to check my system. So for $150 a year, or around $12.50 a month, is it worth the piece of mind that if something that looks “iffy” in your furnace or AC it will get fixed before it causes a major problem?

That’s assuming they do a reasonably thorough job. They should also be replacing your filters.

[jazzcat22]

Originally Posted by markjames68

In my area a tech costs $75 for an hour, which is enough to check my system. So for $150 a year, or around $12.50 a month, is it worth the piece of mind that if something that looks “iffy” in your furnace or AC it will get fixed before it causes a major problem?

That’s assuming they do a reasonably thorough job. They should also be replacing your filters.

A very good point. You can’t put a price on peace of mind, especially for me as I adjust to my new life circumstances. If $12.50 a month buys me some, at least in that area, money well spent.

[reneeh63]

My furnace is getting older (20 years) so the guy says it's better to have it checked every year and be careful about changing the filters often. Clogged filters or the "new-fangled" high-MERV ones make a furnace work harder than normal....