Maintenance
How Preventive HVAC Maintenance Saves You Money
5 min read••
Maintenance costs money. Neglect costs more. Here's the math on preventive HVAC care.
Is annual HVAC maintenance worth the cost? Let's look at the actual return on investment.
Energy Savings
Efficiency Loss Studies show HVAC systems lose 5% efficiency per year without maintenance. For a system costing $150/month to run: - Year 1 waste: $90 - Year 2 waste: $171 - Year 3 waste: $244 - Cumulative: $505 in just three years
Maintained Systems Regular tune-ups keep efficiency near original levels. A $150-200 annual tune-up pays for itself in energy savings alone.
Repair Cost Reduction
Catching Problems Early Small problems caught during maintenance: - Failed capacitor: $150-300 - Dirty coils: Cleaning included in tune-up
Same problems after causing damage: - Burned compressor from capacitor failure: $1,500-2,500 - Frozen coil from dirty filter: $200-400 repair plus coil damage
The 80/20 Rule About 80% of HVAC repairs could have been prevented with maintenance.
Extended Equipment Life
Average Lifespan - With maintenance: 15-20 years - Without maintenance: 10-12 years
Cost Impact Replacing a $6,000 system 5 years early costs: - $6,000 replacement cost - Plus $1,500+ in efficiency losses during decline - Plus emergency replacement inconvenience
Warranty Protection
Most manufacturer warranties require annual professional maintenance. Skipping tune-ups can void your warranty, leaving you responsible for repairs that would otherwise be covered.
The Bottom Line
Annual maintenance typically costs $150-200. It prevents far more than that in: - Energy waste - Avoidable repairs - Premature replacement - Warranty claims
The math clearly favors regular maintenance.