A lot happens in Montgomery, Alabama, in the springtime. Alabama azaleas bloom. The Montgomery Biscuits begin to play ball. And the weather begins to warm up - quickly.

This means that summer is around the corner and it’s nearly time for home owners’ air conditioners to start running, full-blast. But just like they would not want to take their car or truck on a long, grueling road trip without having the oil changed first, consumers should not go into the heat of summer without having the heat pump, furnace or other components of their cooling system inspected. That’s where a seasonal HVAC tune-up comes in.

"A spring HVAC inspection is extremely important because it helps to make sure your system is prepared for the heavy-duty lifting it’ll have to do during the summer," says James Merritt, owner of AirNow, a Montgomery-based contractor that provides HVAC service, repair and maintenance. "It’s like maintaining your car or truck -- have you had the tires rotated and oil changed on your air conditioning and heating system?"

Heating and cooling systems usually fail during the summer’s worst heat wave or the winter’s most brutal cold snap. That’s because during the most extreme heat or cold an HVAC system will work overtime to maintain an ideal temperature in a home. Homeowners will want to make sure their system is up for the task. For the summer, the best time to do that is now, before the heat begins.

"Prior to college football season, Auburn Tigers players go through a comprehensive training camp to prepare," says Merritt. "That’s one reason why they’re so successful. It’s important to do the same for your AC system - tone up and bulk up, so to speak, before the season kicks into high gear."

Benefits of a Seasonal HVAC Tune-up: Saving Money, Time and Headaches

A spring air conditioning tune-up and complete HVAC system inspection generally includes several checkpoints that help optimize the effectiveness of the system. These include air filter cleaning and replacement, detailed inspection of all coils and ductwork, airflow measurement, testing the heat pump, furnace and entire air conditioning unit, and much more.

Why take the time to have a spring HVAC tune-up done? Several reasons, says Merritt.

A springtime inspection and tune-up can fix any potential little problems before they become big problems. "The tune-up is designed to find out and fix any potential deficiencies now so your system doesn’t break down when it’s, say, 95 degrees outside."

It can help consumers save money in the long-run. "Little fixes now can add up to big savings later. You don’t want to be in a position where your entire system needs to be replaced a couple of months down the road because something simple wasn’t checked or adjusted in April or May. Seasonal maintenance can also help save on monthly utility bills."

A spring air conditioning repair, service and maintenance tune-up can also save time and headaches later. "The last thing you want to be doing when the temp is pushing above 90 degrees is scrambling to try and fix a broken cooling system. You don’t want to have to go through the hassle of emergency repairs, especially when the comfort and health of your family is at stake."

Unfortunately, seasonal HVAC inspections are not something that people generally think of. But they are very important in not only preparing a cooling system for the months ahead, but prolonging the life of the system.

"There’s no reason why a home heating and cooling system can’t last 15 to 20 years," says Merritt. "Just takes a little proactive work and preventative maintenance, that’s all. Believe me - it pays off."

While this all sounds well and good, an extensive heating and cooling system inspection may also - on the surface, at least - appear to be expensive. That’s not the case, however. Most seasonal tune-up services cost under $100, and many HVAC contractors offer coupons and other incentives to customers for using their services.

In addition to a spring tune-up, Merritt also recommends homeowners have their HVAC system inspected every fall as well in order to make sure the system is ready to go for the winter. "Contrary to popular belief, it does get cold here in Alabama," he says. "Trust me, you don’t want to be stuck without heat when the temperatures hovering around freezing."

Before that happens, however, Montgomery residents have the summer to contend with. And before that, they’ll want to make sure they make an appointment to have their HVAC system thoroughly checked out.