Blog Image
HVAC
October 8, 2025
Brian Rico

How Often Should I Have My HVAC System Serviced?

Your heating and cooling system works hard every day to keep your home comfortable. It keeps you warm in the cold Northeast Ohio winters and cool in the humid summer months. But like a car, your HVAC system needs regular care to keep running well.

So how often should you have your HVAC system serviced? The short answer is twice a year. But there’s more to it than that. Let’s break it down so you can understand why regular service is so important, what happens during a visit, and how it can save you time, money, and stress.

Why Regular HVAC Maintenance Matters

Your HVAC system has many moving parts. Over time, dust, dirt, and wear can cause it to work harder than it should. This means higher energy bills and a greater chance of breakdowns.

Regular maintenance helps your system run smoothly and keeps your home at the right temperature all year long. It also helps you avoid surprise repairs during the hottest or coldest days when you need your system most.

Think of maintenance like brushing your teeth. You wouldn’t skip months of brushing and hope your teeth stay healthy. The same goes for your furnace and air conditioner.

How Often Should You Schedule HVAC Service?

Most HVAC experts, including the team at B Rico Mechanical, recommend having your system serviced twice a year:

  • In the spring, to prepare your air conditioner for summer
  • In the fall, to prepare your furnace or heating system for winter

These visits are called preventive maintenance. They give a technician the chance to check your system before it’s under heavy use.

Spring HVAC Service

In the spring, your HVAC technician focuses on the cooling side of your system. They’ll check your air conditioner to make sure it’s ready for the warmer months ahead. Common tasks include:

  • Cleaning or replacing air filters
  • Checking refrigerant levels
  • Cleaning the condenser coils
  • Inspecting electrical connections and safety controls
  • Making sure the thermostat is working properly

A clean, tuned-up air conditioner runs more efficiently, cools faster, and costs less to operate.

Fall HVAC Service

When the leaves start to change, it’s time to switch focus to your heating system. During a fall tune-up, your technician will:

  • Inspect and clean the burners and ignition system
  • Check for gas or carbon monoxide leaks
  • Test airflow and adjust fan settings
  • Clean and inspect the blower motor
  • Make sure your thermostat is accurate

This helps prevent heating problems on the first cold night and ensures your furnace runs safely all winter.

What Happens If You Skip HVAC Maintenance?

It’s easy to forget about your HVAC system until something goes wrong. But skipping maintenance can cause more problems than you might think.

Here are a few things that can happen if you skip regular service:

  1. Higher energy bills
  2. A dirty or poorly tuned system must work harder to heat or cool your home, which uses more electricity or gas.
  3. More repairs
  4. Small issues, like a loose wire or clogged drain line, can turn into bigger and more expensive repairs later.
  5. Shorter system life
  6. Lack of care makes your system wear out faster. A well-maintained system can last 12 to 15 years or longer. A neglected one might fail in half that time.
  7. Poor indoor air quality
  8. Dust, pollen, and debris can build up in your ducts and filters, lowering your air quality and aggravating allergies.
  9. Unexpected breakdowns
  10. No one wants their air conditioner to stop working in July or their furnace to die in January. Regular service helps prevent that.

Signs Your HVAC System Might Need Extra Attention

Even with twice-a-year maintenance, sometimes your system needs extra care. Watch for these signs that something might be wrong:

  • Your home takes longer to heat or cool
  • Strange noises or smells come from your vents or unit
  • Your energy bills suddenly rise
  • Uneven temperatures in different rooms
  • The system runs constantly or short cycles

If you notice any of these, it’s a good idea to call B Rico Mechanical for a quick inspection. Catching problems early can save you money and prevent bigger issues later.

The Benefits of Regular HVAC Maintenance

There are many good reasons to keep up with your HVAC service schedule. Here are some of the biggest benefits:

1. Better Energy Efficiency

A clean system uses less energy to heat and cool your home. That means lower utility bills each month.

2. Longer System Life

Regular care helps your HVAC unit last longer. It keeps parts clean and prevents unnecessary wear and tear.

3. Fewer Repairs

A technician can spot small issues before they turn into expensive repairs. That means fewer surprise breakdowns and less stress.

4. Improved Air Quality

Changing filters and cleaning components keeps the air in your home fresher and healthier. This is especially important if you have pets or allergies.

5. More Comfort Year-Round

Your home stays at the right temperature without sudden changes or drafts. A well-maintained system keeps you comfortable in every season.

6. Safety and Peace of Mind

Technicians also check for gas leaks, carbon monoxide issues, and electrical hazards. That helps keep your family safe.

How to Remember Your HVAC Service Schedule

It can be easy to forget when it’s time for service, but there are a few simple ways to stay on track:

  • Set a calendar reminder for spring and fall
  • Sign up for a maintenance plan with B Rico Mechanical (they’ll remind you when service is due)
  • Label your air filter with the date you replaced it so you know when it’s time again

Regular reminders make it easier to keep your system healthy year after year.

Can You Do Any Maintenance Yourself?

Some small maintenance tasks are simple enough for homeowners to handle. These include:

  • Changing air filters every 1 to 3 months
  • Keeping the outdoor unit free from leaves, grass, and debris
  • Making sure vents and registers are not blocked by furniture or curtains
  • Checking your thermostat batteries
  • Listening for unusual sounds or noticing strange smells

However, for most other maintenance, it’s best to call a professional. HVAC systems have electrical, gas, and refrigerant parts that can be dangerous to handle without proper training.

How Much Does HVAC Maintenance Cost?

The price of an HVAC tune-up can vary depending on your system and location. In most of Northeast Ohio, you can expect to pay anywhere from $80 to $200 per visit.

While that might sound like an expense, it’s actually a smart investment. Regular maintenance can save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars in repairs or energy costs over the life of your system.

Some homeowners also sign up for maintenance plans that include both seasonal tune-ups at a discounted rate. These plans often include extra perks, like priority scheduling and discounts on repairs.

What To Expect During a Visit From B Rico Mechanical

When you schedule HVAC service with B Rico Mechanical, here’s what you can expect:

  1. Friendly scheduling — We’ll set a time that fits your schedule.
  2. On-time arrival — Our technicians arrive when promised, ready to get to work.
  3. Complete inspection — We check every part of your system for safety, efficiency, and performance.
  4. Clear communication — We explain what we find in plain language and answer all your questions.
  5. Professional service — We clean, adjust, and test your system so it’s ready for the season ahead.

Our goal is simple: keep your home comfortable and your system running strong year after year.

HVAC Care Tips for Northeast Ohio Homeowners

Living in Northeast Ohio means your HVAC system deals with both freezing winters and humid summers. That makes maintenance even more important. Here are a few local tips:

  • Schedule spring tune-ups in March or April before the first heat wave hits.
  • Schedule fall tune-ups in September or October before the cold settles in.
  • Keep an eye out for rust or corrosion caused by moisture.
  • Check your humidifier settings during winter to prevent dry air.
  • Keep your outdoor unit clear during heavy snow or leaf fall.

A little local care goes a long way toward keeping your system efficient in Ohio’s changing weather.

The Bottom Line

So how often should you have your HVAC system serviced?

Twice a year — once in the spring for cooling and once in the fall for heating.

Regular service keeps your system clean, efficient, and safe. It saves you money on energy bills and repairs, and it helps your equipment last longer. Most importantly, it keeps your home comfortable no matter what the Northeast Ohio weather brings.

Call B Rico Mechanical Today

If it’s been a while since your last HVAC tune-up, now is the perfect time to schedule one.

At B Rico Mechanical, we proudly serve homeowners across Northeast Ohio with friendly, professional heating and cooling service. Our trained technicians make maintenance easy, affordable, and stress-free.

📞 Call B Rico Mechanical today to schedule your seasonal HVAC service and keep your system running strong all year long.

Your comfort starts here.

Brian Rico

Brian Rico is the owner of B Rico Mechanical, serving homes and businesses across Northeast Ohio. With years of hands-on HVAC experience, Brian is passionate about helping customers stay comfortable year-round through reliable heating, cooling, and air quality solutions. When he’s not on the job, he enjoys mentoring new technicians and keeping up with the latest in HVAC technology.