Case Study: How Routine Maintenance Prevented an A/C Breakdown in Sewickley, PA | Spurk HVAC
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Case Study: How Routine Maintenance Prevented an A/C Breakdown

When a Sewickley homeowner called Spurk HVAC for routine A/C maintenance, they expected a quick checkup. Instead, their Spurk technician uncovered issues that could have led to a complete system shutdown. Read how Spurk repaired the problem, cleaned the system, replaced worn parts – and gained a grateful Planned Maintenance member in the process.

The Situation

Having just moved into their historical Sewickley home a year prior, the homeowner hadn’t yet had their A/C system inspected – a common oversight in older homes, where aging systems often hide underlying issues. Though their A/C seemed to be working fine, they noticed it ran constantly during hot weather. Wanting to stay ahead of the summer heat, they called Spurk HVAC and scheduled a routine tune-up.

During the initial maintenance appointment, Spurk’s technician found:

  • A failing capacitor and pitted contactor (two of the most common causes of mid-summer breakdowns)
  • Signs of a refrigerant leak
  • Low subcooling readings, indicating charge issues

What seemed like a routine check revealed underlying issues that would have eventually shut the system down – likely during the hottest days of the year.

Spurk’s Solution

Rather than wait for a failure, Spurk took a proactive, customer-first approach.

Spurk’s technician walked the homeowner through their findings and explained how upgrading from a single tune-up to the Planned Maintenance Program would help them:

  • Catch future problems early with regular checkups
  • Extend the life and performance of their system
  • Save money with 15% off repairs and a reduced dispatch fee
  • Have peace of mind with service reminders and Spurk’s lifetime repair warranty
  • Offset the inefficiencies of older insulation with a properly tuned HVAC system

Already impressed by the technician’s thorough inspection, the homeowner became a Planned Maintenance member on the spot. Their membership immediately saved them money on the capacitor, contactor, and refrigerant-related A/C repairs and set them up for regular system maintenance – without the hassle of remembering to schedule it themselves.

That same day, the technician:

  • Replaced the failing capacitor and contactor with on-truck parts
  • Discussed the suspected refrigerant leak, but noted the truck stock was out of sealant
  • Scheduled a follow-up visit to address the leak

Just a few days later, Spurk returned and:

  • Found the subcooling was still low at 10°F, confirming a slow leak
  • Added sealant, refrigerant, and dye to bring levels to the manufacturer’s target of 16°F
  • Tested the unit and found it to be running properly

The Outcome

Thanks to scheduled maintenance, the homeowner avoided costly A/C failure during peak summer heat. In an older home with less airtight insulation and an aging system, catching these issues early was especially important to keep the system running efficiently and avoid a major breakdown.

  • Customer Satisfaction: The homeowner appreciated Spurk HVAC’s responsiveness, thorough service, and quick response – even during the hottest week of the year.
  • New Planned Maintenance Member: They received 15% off the repairs and now enjoy priority scheduling and reminders for future maintenance visits.
  • Peace of mind: They felt at ease knowing their system was professionally evaluated, tuned, and fixed – and that they have a trusted HVAC partner moving forward.

Don’t Wait for Your System to Fail – Planned Maintenance Keeps It Running Smoothly

Spurk’s Planned Maintenance Program helps prevent surprise breakdowns, saves you money, and gives you peace of mind with reliable, year-round comfort.

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Spurk HVAC

Spurk HVAC

Spurk HVAC was formed in 2018 and is located in Warrendale, Pennsylvania. The combined experience of Dale and Jason, along with the desire to build a respectable, family owned business our community can rely on, are the driving factors behind the formation of Spurk HVAC.