Derek ColeGM, Simmons One Hour Heating & Air · AI HVAC Answers

The Importance of HVAC Maintenance for Efficiency and Longevity

31 Oct 2024 · 2 min

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2:00

In this instructional monologue, Derek Cole emphasizes the critical role of regular HVAC maintenance in preserving system efficiency and preventing costly breakdowns. He cites EPA data indicating that a mere 1/20th of an inch of dirt can reduce a unit’s efficiency by over 20%, effectively nullifying the SEER rating of a recently installed system. Cole recommends a twice‑yearly preventive maintenance schedule—once for heating and once for cooling—to clean filters, coils, and blower wheels, and to inspect motors and capacitors. He explains how neglect leads to component failures such as blower motor burnout or capacitor overheating, especially during extreme temperatures. By treating HVAC upkeep like routine oil changes for a car, he argues that consistent maintenance saves time, money, and extends the lifespan of the equipment, even though it cannot guarantee absolute failure‑free operation.

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According to the EPA, 1/20th of an inch of dirt can drop your efficiency by over 20%. So if you just bought a 14 SEER unit 6 months ago and you don't have it cleaned out, you know, at 6 months or at a year, you don't have it done, well, you don't have a 14 SEER unit anymore. That's not me saying it, that's the EPA saying it. So if you take an inch, slice it up 20 times, and that is how a little bit of dirt can affect your efficiency. So it's very important to keep it maintained, keep it clean, and to keep it checked. You do it twice a year because you do— you want to do it for the— and check the heating and check the cooling. Now, as long as you get it done every 6 months, it doesn't matter when in that aspect it happens, but it does need to happen because In this part of the country, a lot of things that go wrong, a lot of things that happen in the summertime, were things that could have been prevented with maintenance. Changing filters, dirty coils, dirty blower wheels, which is causing the blower motor to go out or causing the capacitor to overheat and then it goes out. All these things can be checked on maintenance and it can save you a lot of time and it's going to save you time and money On top of that, because your unit's not breaking down when it's 95 degrees outside or when it's 20 degrees outside, uh, your unit's not breaking down. Now the maintenance is a preventive measure. It's not saying it's never going to happen, but at least you're catching— it's like changing the oil in your car. At least you're checking things as you go versus not changing the oil, not getting a checkup, And then 5 years later you have a breakdown and you're on the side of the road. So same kind of situation. So yes, very important. That was a long answer to this question, but it's very important to keep it maintained.