Reduce Your Heating and Cooling Costs with Preventative Maintenance

Everyone loves the feeling of keeping warm in winter and cool in summer, but this comes at a cost. The Australian government estimates that heating and cooling account for 20% - 50% of energy use in the average household. This will make up a large portion of your energy bills, especially if your system isn’t performing at its best.

There are plenty of tricks and tips for reducing your heating and cooling costs, but in the end, caring for your system is the most important step you can take.

In this article, we’re going to outline all the ways preventative maintenance can reduce your heating and cooling costs. We’ll also provide some bonus cost-saving tips for your HVAC system and outline the other benefits of preventative maintenance.

Reduce Repair Costs and Prevent Breakdowns

When you have a problem with your heating and cooling, you need to call a professional technician and pay for repairs. The more often you need repairs, the more often you need to pay callout and repair costs. If you have a complete heating and cooling breakdown, you will need to pay even more money to get your system back on track.

Scheduled preventative maintenance can significantly reduce the risk of breakdowns and decrease the likelihood that your system will need repairing.

Some of the repairs your system might need include leak repairs, circuit board replacements, and new refrigerant. Each of these repairs could cost you anywhere from a few hundred dollars to over a thousand dollars! If your heating and cooling unit is breaking down every few months, these unnecessary costs could quickly add up.

By scheduling preventative maintenance every 2-3 years, you can avoid the need for any repairs in between.

Cut Down Your Energy Bills

When you first get your heating and cooling system, it should operate at optimal efficiency. Over time, your system will become less efficient, and the performance will begin to suffer. To produce the same heating and cooling results, your system will need to work harder, resulting in higher running costs.

Preventative maintenance is the best way to restore your heating and cooling to peak efficiency. Through professional cleaning, sealing, air filter replacement, and more, you will reduce your running costs and keep your system operating at its best.

Help Your Heating and Cooling Last Longer

The most expensive cost associated with heating and cooling is undoubtedly the cost to replace your system. Installing a new heating and cooling system will cost on average between $600 and $5,500, according to sources like Canstar Blue and hipages. This can climb to over $10,000 depending on your installation needs.

A heating and cooling system should last at least 10 years, so you won’t need to face these costs too often. However, through preventative maintenance, you could double the life of your heating and cooling system to 20 years or more!

Of course, every heater and cooler will need replacing eventually, but preventative maintenance can help you avoid this cost for many more years to come.

Protect Your Warranty

If your new heating and cooling system is under warranty, you will be covered if anything goes wrong. Systems that are under warranty often cost less to service, and they can be replaced or repaired free of charge in many cases.

To protect your warranty and maintain these benefits, you will need to have your system serviced by an authorised heating and cooling technician. If your system is under warranty, make sure you follow the servicing instructions strictly to get the most out of your heating and cooling.

Other Benefits of Preventative Maintenance for Heating and Cooling

Preventative maintenance won’t just save you money. It can also improve your heating and cooling in the following ways:

1. Increase your indoor air quality and reduce the prevalence of allergic reactions and sensitivities.
2. Maintain the overall safety of your property by preventing fires and other hazards associated with heating and cooling.
3. Reduce your environmental impact by making your system as efficient as possible.
4. Experience complete comfort with premium heating and cooling that is whisper-quiet to operate.
5. Enjoy complete peace of mind that your heating and cooling will work at its best every time you switch it on!

More Tricks and Tips to Reduce the Cost of Your Heating and Cooling

While preventative maintenance is the number one way to reduce your heating and cooling costs, there are several other steps you can take.

Here are a few of our top tips:

• While your filters will be changed during preventative maintenance, you can also check, clean, and replace filters yourself.
• Keep an eye on your outdoor unit and ensure there are no plants, weeds or other nearby obstructions that could affect performance.
• Look into other things that could improve your heating and cooling, including sealing draughts, installing new insulation, or adding double glazed windows.
• Keep your curtains and drapes closed to keep the heat out and throw them open to let the warmth in!
• Maintain a temperature of 25 °C - 27°C in summer and 18°C - 20°C in winter
• If you don’t already have a programmable thermostat, consider upgrading your thermostat for greater control over your heating and cooling.
• If your heating and cooling doesn’t utilise zoning, consider adding zones. This allows you to split your property into multiple areas, which you can heat or cool independently!

Improve Your Cashflow and Airflow with Preventative Maintenance!

There are many ways to improve the performance or cost-effectiveness of heating and cooling. However, preventative maintenance is the best way to do both at once!

When it comes to preventative maintenance services, ensure you partner with a fully licenced and qualified heating and cooling technician. If your system is under warranty, read the warranty carefully and ensure you have your system serviced by an approved professional.

Whatever you do, make sure you invest in regular preventative maintenance and consider signing up for a maintenance plan. Failing to maintain your heating and cooling will only cost you more in the long term, so be sure to schedule heating and cooling maintenance every 2-3 years!