Maintenance and repair are distinct aspects of appliance care. While repairs address existing issues, regular maintenance focuses on identifying and addressing potential concerns before they lead to equipment failure.
This page outlines how regular maintenance supports appliance performance and can dovetail with a Repair Plan from CenterPoint Energy’s Home Service Plus® (HSP).
Why maintenance matters—even with a Repair Plan
Proactive maintenance helps shift the focus from reacting to breakdowns to reducing the risk of equipment failure and unrepairable damage requiring replacement of your equipment.
Monitoring equipment condition can make it easier to detect minor issues before they become major problems. For example, inspections may reveal early signs of wear, such as a cracked heat exchanger or worn blower motor.
What kind of maintenance and how extensive it should be varies from one appliance to the next. Modern innovations have made maintenance on some items, such as dishwashers and washing machines, as simple as cleaning them (possibly with an automatic cleaning function) and inspecting them for leaks or worn-out parts (and replacing them, if necessary).
Other products will have more extensive maintenance requirements.
Additional benefits of regular maintenance include the following:
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Regular maintenance can help HVAC systems and appliances operate better. This additional efficiency could lead to lower energy bills, better indoor comfort and reduced wear and tear on equipment.
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You’ll be better prepared for seasonal changes. Regular tune-ups help your furnace be ready for the coldest days and your A/C for the hottest days in Minnesota’s climate.
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You get peace of mind knowing appliances are in working order. Especially for new homeowners, there’s value in having the reassurance that your systems have been serviced by a professional.
How maintenance and repair plans work together for fuller protection
While the goal of maintenance is to keep appliances running well, repair plans add another layer of defense against appliance breakdown. Together, maintenance and repair plans serve both preventive and corrective roles, offering broader support for keeping home systems in working condition.
Maintenance supports appliance performance; repair plans address needed fixes when covered issues occur. You hope you never have to use the repair plan, but when you do, it can make repairs less stressful. Conversely, you may feel the positive effects of maintenance every time you use a well-maintained appliance.
Utilizing both maintenance and repair plans may help reduce unplanned disruptions and streamline service coordination, plus the potential benefit of longer lifespans for your appliances.
By signing up for both services though HSP, homeowners can deal with one trusted team for both preventive visits and responsive repairs—no juggling vendors.
Maintenance options with HSP: Maintenance Plan vs. one-time maintenance
The
HSP Maintenance Plan includes twice-yearly service visits with heating and cooling tune-ups and includes work that requires specialty equipment such as a combustion analyzer that tests carbon monoxide levels being produced by your furnace/boiler. Additionally, this work can come with significant safety risks that a professional understands and is thoroughly trained to mitigate. And you have the ability to bundle maintenance with any HSP repair plan for seamless integration.
One-time maintenance allows you to schedule individual service visits as needed, performed by the same qualified technicians who support HSP plans.
Comprehensive coverage: pairing maintenance with Repair Plans
An HSP Maintenance Plan can be paired with any HSP Repair Plan:
Pairing maintenance with a Repair Plan may help minimize operational issues, while repairs are there to handle any covered problems that may develop.
An
HSP Replacement Assistance Plan also offers added peace of mind when an appliance is beyond repair. To qualify, your appliance must be in good working condition and already enrolled in the Basic or Total Repair Plan at the time you add the Plan.
Note: Terms and Conditions apply.
Support professional maintenance with simple DIY tasks
We find that many homeowners, especially first-time homebuyers, don’t realize there are many helpful–even crucial–tasks that they can and should be doing periodically to keep their appliances healthy.
These include:
- cleaning refrigerator coils twice per year
- replacing HVAC filters every one to three months
- cleaning the dryer lint trap after every usage and exhaust vent ductwork twice per year
- cleaning the clothes washer drain pump filter every three months.
Consult your manual for instructions on how to perform these and other simple-yet-necessary maintenance tasks. If you can’t find the manual, search for it online by using the model number on the manufacturer’s website.
And we have many more maintenance tips, as well as resources for saving money, staying safe and more, in the HSP Learning Center.
Learn more about maintenance from HSP
Explore HSP maintenance options to find the service that fits your needs.
