HVAC concerns are almost always about air conditioning and other ways of keeping cool — but what about your heating system?

Florida winters may not be bitingly cold or outright dangerous like it can be further north, but you’ll still see cooler days and chilly nights. An effective heating unit will keep your home warm — especially if your home lacks effective insulation against the cold.

You need routine heating maintenance every winter to control energy costs, maximize your system’s service life, and avoid unexpected breakdowns.

How Florida’s Climate Puts Extra Strain on Your HVAC Systems

Even when it gets cold at night in Florida, it’s frequently quite warm throughout the day — which means it’s easy to find yourself in a situation where you’re relying on your heating and air conditioning systems in close succession.

Warming up and cooling off a shared air handler and ductwork can be quite intense for your HVAC system. That’s to say nothing of your energy bills if you’re not careful about managing the transition between the two. Carefully adjusting thermostat settings can help, but it will be an unavoidable stress on your HVAC system if you want to stay comfortable.

Another element of the Florida environment can also stress your HVAC systems. If you’re close to the ocean, salt water can lead to corrosion in your outdoor AC unit.

The condenser coil and fan’s aluminum fins are most vulnerable to deterioration. Frequent component failures, frozen coils, and poor cooling performance indicate that coastal conditions may have damaged your system.

These issues make it all the more important to keep up with annual HVAC maintenance to maintain optimal operation.

When Should I Schedule Heating Maintenance in Florida?

Florida’s cold season typically starts in December and runs through March, so we have a shorter time frame where we need heating than in colder climates.

However, the principle of when to schedule heating maintenance remains the same: shortly before it starts to get cold. This means October or November is the ideal time to schedule heating maintenance.

With fall maintenance, you can enjoy your system at peak reliability and efficiency when you need it and ensure any problems are detected and resolved beforehand.

However, it’s never too late in the season to schedule HVAC maintenance, and our climate offers additional flexibility. It’s most important that you schedule maintenance every year, especially if you have an older system.

Benefits of Routine HVAC Tune-Ups

A well-maintained HVAC system has been cleaned, inspected, tested, and repaired as needed so you can enjoy:

• Improved energy efficiency for lower utility bills
• Enhanced performance to ensure optimal home comfort
• Extended service life so you won’t have to replace your heating system early
• Reduced risk of breakdowns, so you’re not left in the cold
• Fewer heating repair needs because problems are resolved before they impact your comfort

Risks of Skipping Furnace Maintenance

Like any complex system, heating systems can become a problem when they fall into disrepair. By skipping furnace maintenance, you increase the risk of:

• Fire hazards from electrical or gas supply malfunction
• Early breakdown of your system forcing you to upgrade your system unexpectedly
• Ventilation hazards such as CO buildup
• Electrical hazards, from mild wear and tear on your wiring to more substantial risks
• Undetected gas leaks that can harm your family

Let UAT Take Care of Your Furnace Maintenance Needs

Keeping up with HVAC maintenance can seem like a real pain, especially for something that feels relatively unimportant, like heating in Florida. However, routine heating tune-ups are a sound investment for your comfort, finances, and safety.

The team at United Air Temp can make it easy to keep up with all your home HVAC maintenance with our comprehensive maintenance plan. You’ll enjoy:

• Multipoint heating and air conditioning inspections
• Waived labor fees, trip charges, and more
• Locked-in membership rates
• Priority service

Contact UAT at (904) 980-8769 to schedule heating maintenance for your Jacksonville-area home.