Quote:
Originally Posted by Bill14564
The cost/benefit analysis of these inspections would be interesting.
- Identifying a failing capacitor that is then replaced could avoid a hot home. On the other hand, having a spare capacitor on-hand and replacing it when the home begins to warm up would be cheaper
- Identifying a coolant leak or failing compressor would provide an opportunity to schedule a replacement before the existing unit fails. On the other hand, how often do these systems fail gradually such that an owner would get a warning?
If I can fix a problem in ten minutes or preemptively replace the capacitor every three years then is it worth $800 (4 years to noticeable degradation @ $200/year) for a possible warning?
If the system is more likely to fail suddenly than to give a warning then is it worth $2,000+ to have someone come and tell me they see nothing wrong?
Of course, peace of mind has a value too.
I have been off and on with inspections over the seven years I've owned here. I'm on the fence right now but a 45% increase will definitely make for an easier decision.
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Good points. I think the decision point is as follows.
If you have a heat pump system and If you are able to do the following:
1) Clean the condenser and evaporator coils once a year.
2) Pour hot tap water down the condensate line every month or so.
3) Be able to open the condenser unit once a year and test the capacitor to see if it's out of spec. and change it as necessary.
4) Check the amperage of your Auxillary heat strip in the Air Handler.
5) Be able to get a temperature probe and test the Delta-T at your Air Handler.
If your are able to do tasks 1-5 above then one would say you don't need HVAC maintenance by a professional once a year. I would bet if you were able to determine how many Villagers would be able and willing to do all the tasks, it would be a very small number compared to the total population.
If you can't do the above tasks then you probably want to spend the money and have HVAC maintenance done for you.
If you don't have a heat pump system and have a furnace, I would recommend getting a HVAC professional to check your system once a year. If you are a DIY'r and make a mistake with the furnace you are gambling with your life vs spending the $200/year for maintenance. Not worth it unless you have the equipment and know 100% what you are doing.