If you’re a homeowner, you know that home maintenance can be difficult, and often very expensive. There are so many parts to a home that you are responsible for taking care of. It is a job in and of itself to have a house!

That’s why we often stress preventative maintenance here at SSI HVAC. We know the care that goes into taking care of a house (and an HVAC unit) and want you to avoid hassles and extra costs. So here is a list of the top three most costly HVAC repairs and the best way to avoid them.

1 . A Broken Fan Motor 

The fan motor is located in the outdoor unit part of the HVAC system. It is what helps circulate air flow through your home, and if air is not blowing properly through your vents, this may be the cause. If your fan doesn’t start, spins too quickly or slowly, or makes a strange noise, that’s a sign that something is wrong with your fan motor.

The danger of a malfunctioning fan motor is that it can affect the lifespan of your AC compressor. Replacing or repairing this is very expensive, and it can happen easily because many homeowners don’t realize their fan is malfunctioning until it is too late.

How do you prevent having to deal with a broken fan motor or compressor?

Routine maintenance. Fan motors don’t need intense care or attention, but they do need a checkup from time to time to make sure that they are cleaned and working correctly. Sometimes dirt buildups can cause harm to the system. Routine maintenance check-ups will help prevent this common issue.

2 . Refrigerant Leaks

Refrigerant is a substance that is in the coils of your AC system. The coils are what keep your house cool. Sometimes, a leak in the coils can cause refrigerant to escape, meaning that the system needs to work extra hard to keep the house the same level of cool.

These leaks can be difficult to find, costing a lot of money to find and fix. Not just this, refrigerant leaks can lead to the next expensive HVAC repair.

3. Condenser Failure

A central part known as the condenser can fail for a number of reasons, one of which is being overworked because of a refrigerant leak. If the condenser fails, the repairs can be very costly, but again, this can be prevented by routine maintenance.

The common causes of a condenser failure are refrigerant leaks, dirty condenser components, blockages, and motor problems. All of these can be solved by routine maintenance and cleaning and save you hundreds, if not thousands of dollars.

We know this sounds repetitive, but it really is true that regular maintenance helps save you money. HVAC technicians can catch small problems or threats before they become full-blown and expensive. We recommend that you schedule a routine maintenance check at least annually so you can prevent costly repairs.

If you think you want a regular maintenance schedule set up or you have any other HVAC-related questions, don’t hesitate to contact us at Service Specialties. or book a service today.