Heating system maintenance is easy to put off. The heat’s working and nothing seems to be wrong. So why spend money on something that seems to be working just fine?
Because skipping routine annual maintenance can end up costing you a whole lot more than maintaining your system in the first place.
Here are a few of the ways ignoring your heating system can hit your wallet a lot harder than an annual service visit does:
When a heating system is dirty, has worn parts, or is not operating as efficiently as it could be, it has to work harder to keep your home comfortable. That means more fuel or electricity is being used to produce the same amount of heat.
Routine maintenance gives your heating technician a chance to clean, inspect, adjust, and test the system so it can operate as efficiently as possible.
You are already paying to heat your home. You might as well make sure you are getting as much heat as possible for that money!
A worn part, small leak, or other minor issue may not stop your heating system from running today. Left alone, however, a relatively simple repair can turn into a much bigger problem.
One of the biggest benefits of regular maintenance is giving your technician the opportunity to spot those small problems before they become a big expensive repair or you have a breakdown.
There is a big difference between scheduling a regular service appointment and calling for emergency service when you have no heat in the middle of the night.
Emergency service is typically a higher hourly rate than standard service, especially when the call comes after hours, on a weekend, or during the busiest and coldest stretch of winter.
And, of course, heating systems seem to have a special talent for breaking down at the least convenient time possible.
Routine maintenance does not guarantee that nothing will ever go wrong, but it can significantly reduce the chances of a preventable problem turning into an expensive emergency call.
If your heating system completely fails in the middle of winter, your biggest concern is probably going to be pretty simple: Get the heat back on.
But, that urgency can take away your ability to really think through your options.
When you are replacing a heating system under pressure, you may have less time to compare equipment, consider different heating technologies, ask questions, or decide what system makes the most sense for your home and budget.
That can lead to rushed decisions that cost more upfront or cost you more over the life of the system. Planning ahead is very different.
If maintenance shows that your system is aging, becoming unreliable, or requiring increasingly expensive repairs, you can start thinking about replacement now – before it becomes an emergency. That gives you time to understand your choices and make a decision based on what works best for you, not simply what can be installed immediately.
Your heating system is a significant investment.
When a system has to work harder because it’s dirty, poorly adjusted, or running with worn components, that additional strain can contribute to unnecessary wear and tear. Extra wear and tear leads to a shorter lifespan overall for your system.
Regular maintenance helps protect the heating equipment you already paid for, and gives it the best chance of delivering reliable service for as long as possible.
Replacing a heating system a few years earlier than necessary is a much bigger expense than taking care of it along the way!
It’s easy to look at routine heating maintenance as one more thing to pay for.
Maintenance can help lower heating costs, catch problems early, reduce the risk of emergency service, extend the life of your equipment, and give you time to plan ahead when replacement eventually becomes necessary.
And in Maine, where your heating system has a pretty important job for a good portion of the year, waiting until something breaks is rarely the least expensive approach.
If it has been a while since your heating system was serviced – please contact New Energy Solutions. We can help make sure your system is ready for the heating season and let you know if we see anything worth keeping an eye on.
And if your current system is getting older or repairs are starting to add up, now is also a great time to talk about replacement options. New Energy Solutions is currently offering $750 off a new boiler installation through the end of the year.
