HVAC Preventative Maintenance

Your heating and cooling system isn’t cheaply or easily replaced. Preventative HVAC maintenance extends the functional life of your equipment while ensuring it works at peak efficiency. You postpone the need for costly repairs and enjoy clean indoor air and comfortable temperatures while lowering your utility bills. While some essential maintenance requires an HVAC service professional, homeowners can comfortably tackle other tasks. Our HVAC maintenance checklist will guide you in caring for your system throughout the year.

Essential Tools and Supplies

Your local Aire Serv^® professional comes equipped with the specialty tools required to service your system. When you tackle preventative HVAC maintenance tasks yourself, make sure to have the following tools on hand:

• Screwdrivers
• Needle-nose pliers
• Flashlight
• Shop vacuum
• Soft-bristle brushes (a soft toothbrush and 1” paintbrush work well)
• Level
• Replacement air filters that fit your system
• Your HVAC system owner’s manual

Now let’s take a look at the tasks to be completed for optimal preventative maintenance. We’ve broken down our HVAC maintenance checklist according to how often the tasks should be scheduled so you can easily keep track of what needs to be done and when.

Monthly HVAC Preventative Maintenance

Every month, conscientious homeowners should perform the following simple maintenance tasks:

• Listen to the HVAC: Periodically, stop and listen to your HVAC system. Unusual noises (banging, clanking, squealing, or grinding) can indicate an issue, so establishing a baseline is important.
• Check Vents for Blockage: Make a quick review of the air vents in your home to be sure none are blocked by furniture or anything that obstructs airflow.
• Change or Clean Air Filters: Your HVAC system filters out particulates and pollution to clean the air. Dirty filters can restrict airflow, reducing system efficiency.
• Inspect Outdoor Unit: Check for debris, weeds, leaves, or dirt that might block airflow around the exterior unit.
• Test the Thermostat: Testing a thermostat is simple with a smart thermostat. Navigate the settings to find and use the “Test” function. For a standard thermostat, station a friend at the furnace to listen. Slowly turn the thermostat to heat while your friend listens for a sound. Both the thermostat and the furnace should make a sound. If the thermostat remains quiet, change the batteries and test again. If the equipment makes no sound, call in the pros.

Quarterly HVAC Preventative Maintenance

Our HVAC maintenance checklist continues with tasks to be done every three months or so:

• Clean Indoor Unit: Gently vacuum all accessible parts of the indoor unit, like the blower fan and surrounding area, to remove dust, cobwebs, and debris that can impede airflow.
• Check Condensate Drain Pan: Visually check the pan under the A/C that collects condensation. Empty any standing water and clean the pan to prevent mold or blockages. Ensure it drains well.
• Lubricate Moving Parts: Your HVAC system’s owner’s manual will direct you to the moving parts to work on and what lubrication to use.

Biannual HVAC Preventative Maintenance

Thus far, our HVAC preventative maintenance checklist has covered homeowner’s responsibilities. Our biannual tasks are best completed by an HVAC service professional. They include:

• Inspect Ductwork: HVAC professionals use specialized tools to inspect the length of the ductwork for leaks, blockages, and insulation issues, ensuring efficient airflow for heating and cooling.
• Check Refrigerant Levels: Proper refrigerant levels are critical for efficient operation. A service professional checks the levels looks for leaks, and recharges the system if necessary.
• Clean Evaporator and Condenser Coils: Cleaning the coils can significantly improve the efficiency of your HVAC system. Homeowners can perform a superficial cleaning but leave a thorough cleaning of the delicate and easily bent coils to the pros.
• Check Electrical Connections: Ensuring all connections are tight can prevent electrical hazards.
• Clean Drain Lines: Clearing blockages and killing mold or mildew growth in the drain lines prevents potential water damage and maintains efficient performance.
• HVAC Tune-Up: A biannual HVAC checkup is critical for HVAC systems five years old or older, and it covers all the tasks listed above.

Annual HVAC Preventative Maintenance

In addition to the regular tasks listed above, let service professionals tackle this part of your annual HVAC maintenance checklist:

• Replace Worn Pulleys or Belts: This maintains equipment efficiency and prevents breakdowns.
• Inspect Electrical Components: Checking for signs of wear and testing for potential shorts, faulty wiring, damaged controls, or malfunctioning capacitors keeps your system running safely and efficiently.
• Cleaning and Adjusting Blower Components: Effective airflow is critical to system performance.
• HVAC Tune-Up: In the first four years of operation, your HVAC system needs a tune-up once a year.

Our HVAC maintenance checklist pertains to most types of heating and cooling systems. Specific units, like heat pumps or gas furnaces, may include additional maintenance steps. Refer to your owner’s manual.

Breathe Easy! Your HVAC Is Ready to Rock

Following Aire Serv’s HVAC maintenance checklist keeps your system running efficiently and your utility bills low.

Every task on our HVAC Preventative Maintenance checklist is essential for peak system performance. If you miss a month or two on your homeowner’s tasks, rest assured that your Aire Serv professional will take care of it at your next tune-up.

We provide comprehensive HVAC services to ensure you and your family breathe easy all year round. All our work is backed by the Neighborly Done Right Promise^TM because the job’s not done until it’s done right.

Request an appointment today!