Early fall is the best time to schedule a tune-up for the HVAC system in your Reading, PA home. While local summers are moderately warm and humid, winter is downright freezing. With heavy snowfall and temperatures averaging around 20 degrees Fahrenheit, maintaining a functional heater is vital.
Catch and Correct Minor Problems
Tuning up your heating system before the outdoor temperature plummets will help you avoid last-minute surprises and dangerous heating emergencies. These visits allow HVAC technicians to find a variety of problems.
- Leaky air ducts
- Malfunctioning thermostats
- Blocked exhaust vents
- Damaged wiring and circuits
- Faulty starting mechanisms
Finding and fixing these issues early on will keep them from escalating. It will also allow for lower repair costs by preventing minor, localized problems from affecting other functions and components.
Avoid the Last-Minute Rush for Service
In Reading, every home benefits from reliable heating equipment. Unfortunately, many locals wait until the last minute to turn their heaters on and test them. If you join the crowd by delaying or skipping HVAC maintenance, you could have a hard time getting the help you need right away. Local HVAC companies are often inundated with service requests when the first frost arrives.
Enjoy Rapid Scheduling and Prompt Arrival
With pre-season maintenance, you’ll enjoy rapid scheduling and on-time arrivals. When HVAC companies aren’t dispatching their technicians to resolve heating emergencies, they have more manpower on hand for preventative services. Scheduling early-fall maintenance is a great way to avoid delayed arrivals and scheduling that’s days or weeks out.
Sidestep Rising Service Costs
When HVAC companies experience increased demand, their prices often rise. You’ll pay more for both labor and materials if you wait to schedule service mid-season. With early-fall maintenance, you’ll pay less for a comprehensive multi-point inspection and tune-up. You’ll also pay less to repair any developing issues that our HVAC technicians find.
Get the Components You Need
Increased service demand also means increased demand for popular components. During the winter season, there’s often heavy competition for standard HVAC air filters, flame sensors, gas valves, and other replacement parts. Not only are these things more costly when demand is higher, but they can also be more difficult to obtain.
Accurately Estimate Your Fuel Needs
If you use heating oil to heat your Reading home, you can work with a local HVAC company before winter arrives to accurately estimate your wintertime fuel needs. Licensed HVAC contractors can assess the age, condition, and overall efficiency of your unit. Other factors include your household size and how much fuel you’ll require. An accurate assessment of your fuel needs will lower your risk of experiencing a fuel-related heating emergency.
Protect Your Outdoor HVAC Equipment
Fall is also a great time to inspect and protect your outdoor HVAC equipment. When priming your furnace or boiler for the winter months, our HVAC technicians can additionally inspect your heat pump or AC condenser. We can also make specific recommendations for wintertime condenser maintenance and protection.
Ensure System Efficiency
Comprehensive tune-up services can reduce your wintertime energy use by as much as 40%. Having a more efficient heating system can also limit the risk of wintertime breakdowns. Efficient furnaces, boilers, and heat pumps experience less operational stress, and their parts sustain less wear.
Protect Your Indoor Air Quality
In winter, Reading locals keep their homes sealed tight. This keeps heated air in and prevents cold, outdoor air from seeping inside. Indoor air quality (IAQ) is often worse in winter, given that people rarely open their windows and doors for air exchange. With an HVAC tune-up in early fall, you can both protect and improve your home’s IAQ.
Cleaning components like your blower motor, coils, and fans can promote better airflow and circulation. A properly maintained HVAC system also allows for better humidity control. High levels of humidity can lead to higher concentrations of particulate matter and promote the growth of mold.
Ensure Heating System Safety
If you use an oil-fired or gas-fired heating system, pre-season tune-up service will ensure safety. As temperatures drop, birds and other animals often seek shelter in HVAC exhaust systems. These blockages prevent the outflow of exhaust gases and could keep carbon monoxide (CO) trapped indoors. During tune-up service, we’ll assess the integrity of your heating system’s exhaust and test your CO alarms.
B&L OTT Heating & Air Conditioning has proudly served Reading and the surrounding communities for over three decades. We offer expert furnace, boiler, and heat pump maintenance services. We also provide an HVAC preventative maintenance plan to help you save money.
To schedule an early-fall HVAC tune-up in Reading or become a plan member, get in touch with B&L OTT Heating & Air Conditioning today.
