Ever wish too late in the season that you had signed up for a regular pre-season checkup for your heating and air conditioning system? Maybe after an unexpected repair became necessary in the middle of summer or winter? On a weekend or during a holiday?

The cost of regularly scheduled, semi-annual preventive maintenance agreements can be far less than the costs of surprise service calls at inconvenient times, especially if you consider that they usually involve work that has to be done any way – and that is best done by well-trained professionals.

If you are thinking seriously about anticipating the inevitable, shop around now at your leisure with local professional contractors who offer written preventive maintenance agreements. Most contractors do offer them, at attractive prices because they help them manage their work load most efficiently, which is obviously good for you, too. But be sure that you are clear about what is covered in the agreements you consider, and don’t cover. Note particularly the difference

between routine preventive service and replacement or repair work.

Routine maintenance generally includes such work as checking controls, safety devices, thermostats, belts, refrigerant levels and operating components; securing connections; changing filters; lubricating moving parts such as motors and blowers; inspecting ductwork for leaks and clogs; cleaning pans, traps and coils; and checking outside cooling coils and fins. Be sure this is all spelled out so that there is no confusion later.

Like most of us, you probably don’t think much about your HVAC system because it’s working now. And because it’s working and out of sight, routine maintenance is easy to forget. But periodic seasonal checkups can head off trouble. And probably will save you money too on energy and premature replacement. So give yourself some peace of mind by regularly making sure at your convenience that your HVAC system is in good shape.