When Waiting Doesn’t Make Sense

Here’s one of my all-time favorite phrases: “I’ll deal with that later.” Actually, I misplaced my sarcasm font or I would have used it just then. But a lot of people I know really do like that phrase.

Sort of like “deferred maintenance.” This is a concept known by businesses and institutions with property, buildings and equipment that basically means, “We don’t have the budget to repair what’s declining as it is declining, so we’ll deal with it later.” It’s easy to sympathize with the approach of waiting until something is broken until calling for a repair. But it can also be a costly approach.

Homeownership isn’t really any different. We have to keep an eye on the systems and infrastructure that keep our home running. Your air conditioning system, obviously, is in this equation.

By investing each year in routine maintenance, you can save long term on the cost of repairs, extend the life of your equipment and avoid inconvenient breakdowns. It’s simple logic, and only takes a little bit of planning, which means – dare I say? – dealing with it now. But that doesn’t have to be scary. Read "Make Plans for Air Conditioning Maintenance" for quick tips for maintaining your system.

How to Avoid 90% of All System Failures

Dirt.  Five year olds love it, plants can’t live without it, and you’re breathing it in every day.  Not just breathing it in – you’re paying to inhale the largest cause of your home’s dust and allergy problems.

You’re probably thinking that’s an exaggeration.  But the simple truth is that you are paying to run your heating and cooling system, more and more as the weather heats up.  And since dirt is the number one cause of system failure – 90% of all failures, in fact – chances are good that dirt is keeping your system from running at peak efficiency.

Before you invest in a family set of gas masks or prepare for a nomadic existence in the Sahara (hey, at least then you won’t be paying for the dirt), you might want to give your heating and cooling professional a call.

Your system works hard. It’s constantly circulating and cooling the air that keeps your family comfortable. Like anything else that works, it gets dirty and has to be cleaned. Scheduling the maintenance for your home’s heating and cooling system is as important as changing the oil in your car – if you don’t do it, eventually you’ll have a breakdown.

There are a few questions to ask yourself before having your system cleaned:

• How long has it been since your HVAC system was cleaned? Systems should have regular tune-ups, which most companies can schedule for you with a Maintenance Agreement.
• Are there pets in the home?
• Do any family members experience burning in the eyes, nose, or throat while in the home?
• Does your climate have high humidity?
• Do any family members show symptoms of mild to severe allergies?

System failures caused by dirt, as well as expensive repairs, can be avoided with a little preventative maintenance.  Most people don’t realize how much money they can save by making sure their system runs efficiently.

Learning the precautions are part of Four Seasons Air Conditioning & Heating Company's effort to educate the public on how to save time, energy, and money.  We want to show homeowners certain neglected maintenance items that can lead to thousands of dollars in repairs or system replacements.

You can get your ventilation system inspected, plus receive other energy saving tips by calling us at (361) 668–1933 or visiting http://fourseasonsac.com/.