The Importance of Preventive Maintenance

The most important thing other than the quality of the installer installing a new system is the plan of maintenance for that system for the running years to come. You would never buy a new car and just drive it continuously without ever changing the oil or replacing the brakes. Why would you treat a piece of equipment costing between $4,000 and $12,000 that you rely on every day any different? It is important to understand how important even small things are when it comes to taking care of an HVAC system. Even something as small as regularly changing air filters can have a significant impact on the performance and longevity of a system. When it comes time to select a company to work with, understand that all PMA’s are not created equally. Be sure to do business with a company who truly delivers a full-service maintenance and is not just charging you a yearly sum of money to come by wipe the unit off and change an air filter.

During a proper PMA (Preventive Maintenance Agreement), an HVAC technician should:

• Check refrigerant levels
• Check gas connections (if the system uses it)
• Inspect air filters for damage or leaks
• Tighten electrical connections
• Check operation of the compressor and outdoor fan motor
• Clean condenser coils in place if needed
• Inspect air handler blower for operation and cleanliness
• Change air filter (if it is a part of PMA)
• Check thermostats to ensure performance

At Browning Heating and Air in the Gainesville, Florida area we find all of these checklist items to be crucial when it comes to the performance and life span of a system. With every system sold, we suggest signing up for our $160.00 PMA. This covers two in-depth maintenance’s one in spring before cooling season and one in fall before the heating season. At Browning, the most important thing to us is happy homeowners. Quality maintenance ensures a properly running system and a properly running system ensures a happy homeowner! Give us a call at (352) -373-4900 and let us handle that hard stuff for you this season.