The average emergency HVAC repair costs between $150 and $500, but a full system replacement can run $10,000 or more.
The good news for Chicagoland homeowners is that most of those replacements are preventable.
Here are 3 reasons why a home maintenance plan is the single best thing you can do to protect your equipment and your comfort this year.
1. Avoid Small Problems Turning Into Big Ones
One of the most frequent issues we see when visiting customers’ homes is bigger problems that result from ignoring smaller ones.
What happens is some people ignore funny sounds, maybe a different smell, or even how much harder their HVAC and furnace are working. Eventually, usually at the worst time, they just stop working, leaving you without heat or air conditioning.
Every time a small part breaks, it wears down the other parts of your furnace and HVAC until something major breaks. This includes dirty coils, restricted airflow, worn igniters, and more.
Once your system shuts down, you’ll need a much more expensive repair (or even full system replacement), adding to your stress.
What a maintenance plan protects you from is letting small problems grow and grow, as a member of the Flader team visits your home twice a year to inspect and tune up your systems.
During those tune-ups, they can inspect your system for any small fixes that might need to be repaired right away.
But an understated aspect of a maintenance plan is that you also get 30% off repairs with no overtime costs, priority service, and priority scheduling. Rather than ignore whichever issue you’re dealing with, you can get an appointment right away without the fear of a massive bill.
Don’t let small repairs lead to massive (and expensive) problems down the road.
2. Prepare Your Systems for Peak Stress
Every homeowner knows that when the Chicago summer heats up, or the Windy City freezes, their HVAC and furnace systems will be running nonstop.
What you don’t want is for either of those to break down when you need them most.
Peak stress affects every single part of your HVAC and furnace, wearing them down over time. Especially if you haven’t maintained them throughout the year.
A regular maintenance schedule allows you to have a technician come out in the fall and spring to ensure your system is up to the task when the worst weather hits.
In the fall, this usually means tuning up your furnace:
- Inspecting and cleaning the burners to ensure proper ignition and combustion
- Checking the heat exchanger for cracks or corrosion that could lead to carbon monoxide leaks
- Testing the ignition system, flame sensor, and safety controls
- Inspecting the blower motor and lubricating moving parts if needed
- Replace or clean the air filter for proper airflow
- Checking thermostat operation and calibration
- Inspecting the flue and venting to make sure exhaust gases are safely vented outside
- Measuring airflow and system performance to catch strain before it causes breakdowns
For the spring, maintenance focuses on your air conditioning unit:
- Cleaning the outdoor condenser coil and removing debris
- Inspecting the indoor evaporator coil for dirt buildup
- Checking refrigerant levels and looking for leaks
- Testing electrical components like capacitors, contactors, and wiring
- Inspecting and tightening connections
- Checking the condensate drain line to prevent clogs and water damage
- Testing system startup, shutdown, and overall cooling performance
- Replacing or cleaning the air filter and checking airflow
Every system is different, but the trained technicians at Flader Plumbing and Heating work with you to keep your heating and cooling running smoothly, no matter what time of the year.
3. Extend the Life of Your Equipment
Your HVAC system and furnace are among the most expensive pieces of equipment in the house, ranging from $ 3,000 to $15,000 or more. But if you neglect your system, everything works harder, burns out faster, and fails years before it should.
For furnaces, a well-maintained one should last at least 15 years. For those calls we get in the winter due to furnaces that haven’t been maintained, they last around 10.
The same goes for your HVAC systems.
A well-maintained furnace and HVAC system
- Runs more efficiently
- Catches refrigerant leaks early
- Keeps your warranty valid
- Maintains better air quality in your home
The technicians at Flader Plumbing and Heating have been doing this for over 100 years.
We know what early wear looks like, what parts tend to fail first on older systems, and how to squeeze every productive year out of your equipment.
What Flader’s 5 Star Maintenance Plan Includes
The Flader 5-Star Maintenance Program is designed to give homeowners in Evanston, Libertyville, and the surrounding Chicago area and suburbs complete confidence in their home’s systems year-round.
Everyone who signs up for our maintenance program gets:
- Priority Service
- Priority Scheduling
- 30% Off Repairs
- 2-Year 100% Comfort Guarantee*
- Reduced “Add-On” Repair Costs
- No Overtime Charges
- No Holiday Charges
- Up to 10-Year Parts & Labor Warranties
- 90-Day “No Breakdown” Guarantee
- Transferable Warranties with Home Sale
- Savings Account for Future Purchases of New Equipment**
Whether it’s the winter cold, or the Chicagoland summer, our maintenance program ensures your systems are working properly when you need them most.
Need Seasonal Maintenance for Your Furnace or HVAC? Call Flader Plumbing and Heating Today.
If you own a home in the Chicago area, especially one with an older HVAC system or furnace, regular professional care can keep your systems healthy and running year-round.
Contact Flader Plumbing and Heating today to schedule an appointment and find out how our 5-Star Maintenance Program ensures heating and air conditioning when you need it most.
