In Southern California, there’s really no wrong time to have your heater serviced. If you lived in Vermont, sure, we would suggest having that done before the worst of winter takes hold. But with our weather, we can get away with having to service our furnace in the middle of the cold season.
That being said, we’re not suggesting that you wait until the last minute to have your heater serviced. In fact, we don’t recommend having any HVAC services in Mission Viejo, CA done at the very last minute. As soon as you notice a problem, it’s always a good idea to call it in. Almost nothing good comes out of putting it off! For example:
Lowered Efficiency, Higher Bills
The longer you allow a repair issue to go unfixed, the longer you have to sit with a heater with less-than-satisfactory performance. And we’re not just implying that you’ll have to be a little less comfortable. While that’s certainly true too, what we really want to point out is that efficiency can substantially drop when your heater isn’t performing at its best.
Lowered efficiency leads to longer running times and more energy wasted to get your heater running at the desired temperature. While it may not seem like a big deal, consider that these efficiencies can largely go unnoticed for weeks or months at a time. When it all adds up, you’ll end up suffering for it on your heating bill.
Irreparable Damage to the System
Not only will putting off a repair drive down your efficiency, but it will gradually increase wear and tear on parts of the system. Eventually, something is going to break.
In one case, you might be lucky to get away with something as minor as a burnt-out blower motor. In a far less fortunate case, you might end up inviting irreparable damage. For a heat pump, that can mean ruining a compressor and having to replace the system early. For a furnace, that can mean endangering your family’s life with a carbon monoxide leak.
This is the same reason that we also encourage all HVAC system owners to schedule regular maintenance.
Rushing Into Big Purchases
If your heater decides to kick the bucket right in the middle of winter, you’ll then be faced with the decision to buy a replacement. Even if our winters aren’t the coldest, no family wants to go for days on end without heat. And that’s precisely when many homeowners make the mistake of rushing into purchasing a new unit.
Your new heater is going to last you nearly 15 years—that’s a long time to be stuck with a unit that you don’t like. By giving yourself time to research your options, you can look at efficiency ratings, heating system features, fuel source costs, and more. You’ll also have more time to set aside money for a higher-efficiency model that can pay itself off in monthly savings.
Can’t remember the last time you had a service? Let’s start with a maintenance check! Contact RKM Heating and Air Conditioning today to schedule a service.