Seasonal HVAC Inspections and Home Insurance in New Bedford
Maintaining your home means staying on top of regular inspections, repairs, and manufacturer-recommended servicing for the major systems to ensure efficiency, effectiveness, safety, and longevity. If you noticed your heating bills go up this past winter or had issues keeping your home cool in the summer, it’s a good idea to hire a professional to inspect your HVAC system. Home insurance in New Bedford does not cover damage to things like HVAC equipment unless it was damaged in an approved claim for a fire or other type of covered incident. The best insurance you can get for your home beyond a Massachusetts home insurance policy is to sign-up for an annual contract with a reputable HVAC repair and maintenance provider. For additional insurance coverage that can be added to your existing policy, speak with a New Bedford insurance agent at Borden Insurance Agency.
What Makes HVAC Inefficient?
There are a number of things that could cause your HVAC system to perform inefficiently, regardless of the age of your equipment. Leaking ducts, an overtaxed system, poorly installed ducts, and improperly maintained equipment are frequent culprits when it comes to efficiency issues. Dirty air ducts can also be an issue, so it pays to get an inspection before investing in costly repairs. A certified HVAC contractor will be your best bet to protect your home, heating, and air-conditioning system and reduce liabilities associated with hiring non-certified providers. Always check the certifications, licensing, insurance, and reputation of a service provider before inviting them into your home. Inadequately insured or uncertified repair staff could pose a significant liability to you as a homeowner.
Even if you aren’t doing the work yourself – which you should not unless you are licensed and certified for HVAC maintenance and repairs – it pays to know a little bit about how your home’s systems work. A certified HVAC contractor will have the training and tools necessary to evaluate the efficiency of your system. Studies show that 40 percent of conditioned air, including both heated and cooled, escapes through leaks, holes, and improper connections in the air ducts. If you have rooms that are not cooling as well as others or have drafty spaces in your home, make sure that the HVAC professional you hire is checking the air ducts for leaks. Sealing, insulating, and repairing broken vents is one of the best ways to improve energy efficiency and reduce heating and cooling costs year-round.
A Balanced HVAC System
One of the tasks that must be done to ensure your HVAC system’s proper efficiency and effectiveness is to have it perfectly balanced. Similar to home insurance in New Bedford, a balanced and well-maintained system will provide the best results. Some of the areas that are checked include airflow, duct leakage, pressure, and the specific pressure of filters, coils, and fans. A certified contractor will be able to compare the current performance with the manufacturer’s specifications. Some brands of HVAC systems must have a factory-trained or otherwise authorized technician to perform repairs, maintenance, and services in order to satisfy warranty requirements. It is essential that you know whether or not your system is still under warranty and to find out what work – if any – has been done by any other repair technicians in the past.
Modern high-efficiency HVAC systems may require additional services in order to achieve the maximum desired results. To improve your system’s effectiveness, reduce energy consumption, and provide better thermal control, regular maintenance according to the season should be provided. Preventive maintenance, diagnostic repair, and regular inspections should be performed in the spring and again in the fall. If your system is old, determined to be inefficient, or needs to be replaced for any other reason, make sure to contact your New Bedford insurance agent. Your Massachusetts home insurance policy should be updated to show any upgrades that you make to your home, including any of the major systems, appliances, roofing, and essential fixtures. In fact, you should contact your New Bedford homeowners insurance provider at least once each year to go over your coverage and make sure that everything is up-to-date. Contact Borden Insurance by calling 508-999-3636 to speak with one of our agents about your current policy or to get a FREE quote for home insurance in New Bedford.