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HVAC, like any other home system, requires regular maintenance. This shouldn’t be optional, especially as it goes through years of use. It is the key to ensuring that it works efficiently.

Preventive maintenance lets you know how your HVAC system is doing, keeping you on top of potential malfunctions. By intentionally taking care of it, you’ll prolong its lifespan as well as save on repairs and energy costs.

While you can do inspections on your own, you should always default to professionals for serious issues with your air conditioning and heating. These experts can identify and resolve large-scale HVAC problems, keeping you and your loved ones free from safety hazards. You can count on them when you’re not sure what to do.

In the meantime, how will you keep up with maintenance with so many parts to cover? Your best bet is to create a checklist that will guide you.

Before you start, here are specific reasons why HVAC maintenance matters.

Importance Of HVAC Maintenance

Everyone enjoys an HVAC system that reliably keeps them warm or cool, depending on the season. But if you want to keep that going, you should always give it a checkup.

Below are the benefits that routine preventive maintenance has to offer.

  • Lower energy bills: High-performing systems offer more efficiency and sustainability, letting you have greater climate control at a lower energy rate. High bills are often the result of poorly maintained ones.
  • Fewer repairs: HVAC parts can be very expensive. This makes detecting problems sooner so important for keeping costs down. By having regular maintenance, you can keep them from ballooning in severity, letting you save precious effort and finances.
  • Longer-lasting equipment: Following the previous point, routine preventative maintenance keeps you from having to spend on problems you could have solved before worsening. This way, you won’t have to replace your system every three or four years due to unforeseen issues.
  • Enhanced safety: Not only do HVAC system problems lead to costly repairs, but they can also create health and safety hazards, endangering you and your loved ones at home. Investing in regular maintenance keeps you from encountering problems like carbon monoxide poisoning and overheating.

Now that you understand the benefits of routine maintenance, it’s time to create a checklist. While every location or household has its own unique requirements, these should provide a general framework on what you should do at every time of the year.

Spring And Summer Routine Maintenance

At this stage, you’re supposed to get your system running through warmer weather. Some places will also have serious pollen outbreaks, an issue your HVAC system should be able to solve.

Here are the steps you should take.

  1. Begin by replacing all the filters in your system. These are often clogged with dust, pollen, and other airborne debris. Cleaning the filters should prevent these from either causing airflow backups or the circulation of dirty air.
  2. Clean evaporator coils and condensers. These should help them easily transfer heat to the outside, keeping your HVAC’s cooling optimal.
  3. Clear any debris on the outside of the unit. This includes any clogs that are in the drain lines. This will ensure the proper flow of air throughout your household.
  4. Replace worn pulleys and belts.
  5. Inspect ducts for dust and mold. Once they accumulate in these spaces, they can easily be blown back into the house, undermining your family’s health.
  6. Replace and lubricate any moving parts.
  7. Check all the connections and electrical systems.
  8. Ensure that the fan is operating well. This provides the motion needed to move air across the system.
  9. Check the system for leaks. These often prevent the cooling from circulating properly across the home, inadvertently turning certain spaces hotter.

Fall And Winter Routine Maintenance

The HVAC system works differently during the colder season compared to summer or spring. To keep it running effectively just as before, here are a few things to do in addition to those listed above.

  1. Prioritize the heating components. Make sure that there is proper airflow and sealing to prevent the buildup of carbon monoxide, an issue that causes serious health problems.
  2. Inspect the ignition burner assembly. This includes the thermostats and wiring. They are vital for keeping the house warm.
  3. On that note, you should check the controls. Finding the ideal thermostat settings for your home space is a common-sense measure to avoid wasting energy.
  4. Check the heat pump to ensure that it works as it should.

Give It The Attention It Needs

AdobeStock_560135424 A 13-Item Checklist For Routine HVAC Maintenance

This checklist may not be an exact fit for your home. But it should give you an idea of what to do in anticipation of changing weather conditions. After all, those are factors that affect the usefulness and longevity of your HVAC system.

With a proper maintenance checklist, keeping your system running should be a breeze. Remember to turn to experts when something goes awry.

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