Chuck and Steve discuss one of the questions we hear all the time: Should I set my HVAC system fan to the “ON” or “AUTO” setting on my thermostat?

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One of the questions we get all the time — why is furnace and AC maintenance so expensive? Chuck is here to explain why regular maintenance is important and how it might actually save you money in the end.

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Imagine never worrying about maintenance or replacement of your electronics, car or home — it sure would be great. Unfortunately, we know that’s not the case. Many items we own need to be maintained and eventually replaced. You probably replace your smartphone every two years and your car every five to 10 years, but your home’s heating and cooling system will last 17 to 20 years. For many homeowners, they only purchase one new system in their lifetime.

Every HVAC system won’t last 20 years on its own. Here are several contributing factors you need to know.

1. Location
   Living in Iowa, your air conditioner and furnace each only work three to six months of the year. Lower operating hours mean a longer life expectancy. Compare that to homes in the Southwestern United States that require air conditioning for more months of the year or northern states that require more heating throughout the year.
2. Maintenance
   We recommend one yearly tune-up for your air conditioner and one for your furnace. Lack of maintenance can take years off the life expectancy. Plus, the system could lose up to 40 percent efficiency, which means you’ll be paying more in energy bills.
3. Proper use
   It’s tempting to set the thermostat to 68 degrees on those sweltering summer days or 76 on those wicked winter nights. Unfortunately, setting it to the extreme is overworking the system, which will reduce its useful life. Also, if you turn your system on and off frequently, the engine is being overworked. On average, the unit runs 10 minutes before reaching peak efficiency.
4. Right-sized
   For years it was common practice to install a bigger unit than what was needed in homes. Now, HVAC professionals can find a unit that is right-sized to your home’s needs. If the unit is not properly sized, it’s most likely working too hard or too inefficiently, which can take time off its useful life.

Here are two important reasons you need to know the life expectancy of your air conditioning unit.

1. Avoid health risks
   Continuing to use a system past its useful life runs the risk of a carbon monoxide leak. The odorless, colorless and tasteless gas can be deadly if not quickly detected.
2. Avoid a breakdown
   You may be thinking — if it’s not broke, why replace it? Knowing your system is at the end of its life can help you avoid an unexpected complete breakdown. Emergency replacements can be inconvenient to schedule and difficult to pay for (if you haven’t been saving up) and could leave your family without cooling or heating when Mother Nature is at her worst.

 

Imagine it’s the middle of August. There’s a streak of 90-degree days. Out of nowhere (or so it would appear), your air conditioning stops working. Not good. You’re left physically sweating while worrying about what’s wrong with your system.

Most likely, a professional will be able to fix your unit. There’s also a good chance routine maintenance could have prevented the breakdown. Ninety percent of calls we receive for breakdowns are due to lack of maintenance. Here are four things you can do to keep your system up and running.

 1. Replace the furnace filter

The furnace and air conditioner work together to keep your home comfortable. The air conditioner coil sits on top of your furnace. In order to keep it clean, you need to replace your furnace filter regularly. Standard 1-inch disposable filters should be changed monthly while high efficiency filters can be changed less often.

2. Clear debris from outside AC unit

An air conditioner includes an inside and outside unit. The outside unit needs proper airflow in order to work correctly. A standard rule you can follow is providing three feet of space around the unit and five feet above the unit for necessary airflow. It’s also important to keep debris such as leaves and branches away from the outside unit. The unit can suck in dirt, pollen, etc., which can plug the coil. A plugged coil is the No. 1 reason for loss of air conditioning. Do not hose down or brush off the coils. This could actually damage the unit or push the dirt and debris farther into the unit — making matters worse. Leave this for the professionals.

3. Schedule professional maintenance

We recommend an annual tune-up to ensure your air conditioner is working safely and efficiently. A technician will clean and inspect the components to make sure there are no damages or safety hazards. If not properly cleaned every year, your system could be losing up to 40 percent efficiency. You could actually save the cost of maintenance —or more — in energy savings. Having annual maintenance performed on your HVAC system also helps extend the life of your air conditioner and furnace.

Learn more: 4 Reasons Spring Is the Best Time to Replace Your AC System

4. Set at 74 to 76 degrees

The higher you can set the thermostat, the better. Many of us are guilty of overworking our air conditioner by setting it at 72 degrees or colder. The main job of your air conditioning system is actually to dehumidify your home — not cool the air inside it. During periods of high humidity or extreme temperatures, we recommend you do not set the thermostat back while you are not home, because the system will lose control over the humidity and temperature. It then has to work harder when you return to reduce the humidity. Keeping your unit from overworking will reduce wear and tear and prolong its life.