If you don’t have your AC serviced regularly, the little problems that develop over a year of operation will get worse. These issues, in turn, result in reduced performance, lowered efficiency, and an increased risk of failure. Over time, you’ll lose money on wasted energy and unnecessary or more severe repairs, and you may ultimately need to replace your unit after a shortened service life.

Air conditioners last significantly longer than heating units, thanks to a lack of combustion. A well-maintained air conditioner can last 15 to 20 years with minor repairs as needed. You might choose to upgrade sooner for improvements in efficiency, features, or performance, or if you have a unit that’s needed frequent repairs for one reason or another.

Servicing your AC means a technician will inspect the exterior and interior components, clean everything that can be cleaned, check the state of electrical connections, test various components and metrics, and identify anything that needs repairs.

Your heating system should be serviced at least once a year, more frequently if you use it heavily across multiple seasons. If you have a heat pump, this should be serviced twice a year because you’re using it for heating and cooling. Service immediately before the cold season is recommended, as this will give you the best efficiency and lowest risk of a breakdown during the time of year when you need heat most.

Heating your home costs significantly more than cooling it in most cases; statistically, homes in the U.S. consume four times the energy for heat as they do for cooling. A heat pump used in the right climate can bring these numbers down as under the right conditions, heat pumps can achieve three to five times the energy efficiency of combustion-based heating solutions.

Investing in an HVAC service plan is worth it for several reasons. First and foremost, it ensures regular maintenance of your systems as needed. The real value comes from the discounts, priority service, and other perks that you’ll see with an annual maintenance agreement. It’s also much easier to keep up with your maintenance and avoid more costly repairs.