Owning a rental property is a great long-term investment. However, HVAC Maintenance for Rental Properties can be one of the biggest inconveniences that deters people from making such an investment.
While there are many aspects to maintaining your rental properties, you shouldn’t let maintaining your properties’ HVAC units become another item on your maintenance to-do list. Wisler Plumbing & Air offers a full range of residential heating and cooling system services to your high demand HVAC Maintenance for rental properties.
To better understand the best options for providing quality heating and cooling to your tenants, here is a guide to help you ensure your HVAC systems are working optimally for you.
Legal requirements to have and maintain HVAC units at rental properties
In the state of Virginia, you are not legally required to provide air conditioning in your rental property. However, landlords are obliged to provide heating to make the house or building safe and habitable for tenants. If a rental agreement requires air conditioning as part of the rental agreement, both heating and air conditioning must be provided.
Given the oppressive heat of the Virginia summer, you probably want to ensure properly functioning air conditioning to retain and attract quality tenants long-term. This means you must maintain a fully functioning HVAC system for your rental property. If the heater or air conditioning stops working, repairs are the responsibility of the owner.
Best maintenance practices
Based on this, let’s talk about what you can do to keep your system running at peak performance. The key is proper and regular maintenance.
Create a maintenance schedule
Instead of relying on “I forgot to replace the ____?” » A few months after the due date, ensure your property’s HVAC equipment is operating optimally by creating a maintenance schedule. This eliminates the guesswork and saves you time and money.
Replace air filters
This is the easiest way to extend the life and efficiency of your property’s HVAC systems. The best way to remember this is to change filters throughout the seasons. A clean filter, especially a high-quality filter, will make a big difference in the air quality in your rental homes or apartment buildings.
Check belts and bearings
Like a vehicle engine’s timing belt, your HVAC unit’s belt can wear out over time. Check these belts regularly and have them replaced by a qualified City Heat and Air technician if necessary.
You should also ensure that your HVAC unit bearings are always properly greased to ensure that metal-on-metal contact does not damage the equipment.
Clean air ducts
This has a similar result to replacing your air filters, as cleaning these areas will make a big difference in the indoor air quality of your rental properties. When you inspect these ducts, you realize that all the dirt you see in these rooms is contaminating the air that your tenants breathe in the house. Performing routine cleanings can keep the air quality in your rental properties high.
Clean HVAC units
This is another easy way to maintain your HVAC investment by ensuring there are no brushes, mud, or other debris on or in the exterior of your HVAC unit.
Remove standing water
Standing water is a breeding ground for bacteria that can easily invade your HVAC system. Frequently eliminate standing water around your building’s drain pans and other moisture-regulating areas of your system.
Keep your monthly bills and costs low
As an owner, you naturally want to reduce your costs while maintaining the quality of life of your tenants. Regardless of whether you or your tenants pay for your property’s utilities, you need to do everything you can to keep these costs down. Therefore, you want to maximize the energy efficiency of your rental properties.
- Replace equipment
- Install Low-E windows
- Install programmable thermostats
- Duct sealing
- Upgrade your insulation
- Perimeter sealing
All of these changes can be made without much hassle, but can make a significant difference in heating and air bills for you or your tenants.
Protect your investment
The typical lifespan of a quality HVAC system is 15 to 20 years, which means you’ll need to spend more money to get a system you can rely on. The last thing you want is for the heat to go out in the middle of winter and angry tenants waiting for you to make the necessary repairs.
Your HVAC system is probably the largest financial investment in your rental properties. When choosing a unit to install, trust a reputable heating and cooling provider to provide you with the comprehensive information you need to make the best decision for your properties. Here are the main system types to choose from:
- Split vs Packaged Systems
- Furnace vs Heat Pumps vs Duel Fuel for Heating
- Ducts vs Ductless Systems
Once you’ve chosen an HVAC system, consider an extended warranty to protect your rental property investment.
HVAC Maintenance for Rental Properties in Roanoke, VA
Operating rental properties can be an incredible wealth-building opportunity, but you need to ensure your HVAC systems are working well to have happy and comfortable tenants. To extend the life of HVAC systems, regular maintenance is a necessary investment to protect you from the inconvenience of a faulty system during the extreme weather months of the year.
At Wisler Plumbing & Air, we offer an annual service plan that is unmatched in Virginia. Whether your heating and cooling system needs regular maintenance or you’re ready for a new HVAC installation, Wisler Plumbing & Air has what you need as the upcoming winter months bring colder weather to our area. We are proud to provide Roanoke, Virginia, and the surrounding communities with exemplary heating and cooling services and have worked hard to build a reputation for exceptional customer service and satisfaction. Our HVAC company offers maintenance, installation and repair of various HVAC systems. Learn more about our HVAC services by calling us today at (540) 685-0366.
