The most important part of HVAC upkeep is maintaining unrestricted air flows. Dust, dirt and debris are an HVAC system’s worst enemies. Whether it’s an indoor or outdoor unit, you must keep all filters clean and heat exchangers and coils free of restrictions.

We recommend that your heating and cooling system be checked and serviced twice a year (ideally, a tune-up in spring and autumn). Such regular maintenance will ensure that your system is operating efficiently, with problems like leaks in the heat exchanger, dust and debris in the blower compartment or bent coils addressed, and that it is functioning safely, free of natural gas or carbon monoxide leaks.

Also, we recommend that you change or clean your filters once a month. However, your frequency may vary depending on a number of factors, such as air quality in your area, your sensitivity to air quality (e.g., allergies), whether you keep indoor pets, the age your home, the type of HVAC system you own and the type of filter you use.

If you are sensitive to dust, mold and other potential airborne pollutants, you may want to change your filters more frequently. Likewise, homes with indoor pets or older homes, which may have accumulated dust through the years, may experience quicker build-up of dirt and hair on the filters. If you are dealing with any of these circumstances, you may want to consider checking your filter’s condition more often than once a month.

While the issues noted above are all good reasons to have your HVAC system serviced regularly, just making sure you replace your filters on a fixed schedule can eliminate many of the most common problems that need fixing, significantly reduce the likelihood of a serious breakdown, and keep the air quality in your home at optimum levels.

If you want peace of mind, knowing that these and other HVAC concerns are professionally addressed, you should consider a Pioneer Heating & Air Preferred Maintenance Plan. This preferred maintenance plan is your assurance that these maintenance needs are met regularly and that any potential problems are promptly identified.

Pioneer Heating & Air Preferred Maintenance Plan: What does this mean for you?

Regular maintenance keeps your HVAC system running as efficiently as possible. Maintaining your HVAC system will save you money by extending the life of your equipment.

The Pioneer Heating & Air Preferred Maintenance Plan includes:

• 5% Discount on any repair or replacement
• 5 year parts and labor warranty on all repairs
• First priority when calling for a repair (you go to next in line)

Pioneer Heating & Air and one of its employees recently received two honors that we’d like to share.

 We are happy to announce that Gordy Noe of Pioneer Heating & Air, Knoxville, was selected by the Plumbing – Heating – Cooling Contractors Association (PHCC) as the National HVAC Contractor of the Year. The achievement was celebrated at PHCC’s CONNECT 2013 convention in Las Vegas, with the award announced on a huge screen above 500 applauding attendees at the awards luncheon.

Gordy Noe, 2013 National HVAC Contractor of the Year Winner

The award recognizes excellence in the HVACR industry. It is presented each year to the HVACR contractor who best represents the ideals of the profession. Nominees are judged on professionalism, merchandising and management skills, innovative techniques, trade involvement and community service.

For the National HVAC Award, an applicant must have an endorsement from a chapter. The state chapter endorsed Gordy, recognizing his stellar career fair attendance, Day on the Hill support, volunteerism on a state and chapter level and his work as the President of the Knoxville PHCC Chapter.

Gordy was presented a trophy and a check by Roger Peugeot, Chairperson for the Educational Foundation and PHCC National President, David Dugger. We would like to add that, last year, Gordy was awarded the 2012 Tennessee PHCC Contractor of the Year title.

Congratulations Gordy!

Also, our company was just voted the winner in the Heating & Air Company category in the Knoxville News Sentinel’s 2013 Readers’ Choice Awards. Voting took place over a three-week period in September, and interest in the competition was considerable, with more than 75,000 readers casting ballots in the vote.

This achievement is special to us, because it was granted by the votes of you, our customers. We are pleased to be a part of such a fine community and to serve its heating and air conditioning needs.

So we thank you for your vote and promise we will continue to work hard to be your #1 heating & air company in 2014.

When the mercury dips below the freezing mark, isn’t it nice to be warm and cozy inside with the heat running? And wouldn’t it be awful if you turned your furnace on and nothing happened? That’s why it’s important to have your heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system inspected now, before the really cold winter weather sets in.

While it’s best to have your system checked in spring or fall when it’s not in use, if you haven’t had your HVAC inspected for a while (or at all), now is the time to start scheduling regular checkups. Why? Well, you wouldn’t drive your car indefinitely without having regular maintenance done on it, would you? And keeping your home heating and air system functioning at top form is at least as important as keeping your car running smoothly, isn’t it? So schedule a heating and air system inspection today, and secure these benefits.

Safety. An inspection will reveal if your system is at risk for natural gas or carbon monoxide leaks that could harm you and your family.

Efficiency. Your HVAC may not be operating at peak efficiency. Leaks in the heat exchanger, dust and debris in the blower compartment or elsewhere and other factors may be inhibiting its performance. An inspection can let you know where function can be improved.

Cost savings. Poor HVAC system performance translates into higher utility bills for you. Increased efficiency after an inspection should lower your heating and air conditioning costs.

Air quality. East Tennessee’s allergy-causing pollen and mold are well known. Besides pollen and mold spores, dust, dirt and other materials can build up over time in your HVAC system, reducing your home’s air quality. An inspection can determine if cleaning is necessary. A cleaner system can offer not only improved operation, it can make the atmosphere in your home more breathable, too.

Don’t wait until an emergency happens to have your HVAC system checked. Instead, ensure that your system will continue to do its job when temperatures dive to subfreezing. Call Pioneer Heating and Air at (865) 922-2817 to schedule your system inspection today.

For complete information on Pioneer’s inspection and maintenance programs, please visit our Web site (http://pioneercomfort.com/services/maintenance-program/)