The Ultimate HVAC Maintenance Checklist
Ensure your heating and cooling system is running efficiently all year long with this ultimate HVAC maintenance checklist.
Is there a problem with your home’s airflow? Maybe you’ve noticed a sudden increase in your energy bills. If your HVAC system isn’t working properly, you might have to pay the price.
Regular HVAC maintenance can cut energy costs by 5 to 40%.
Want to make sure your heating and cooling system is running properly? Here are 10 tips that can help ensure your system is up-to-date. With this HVAC maintenance checklist, you can improve your home’s efficiency and cut costs.
Discover a cost-effective, properly running system by cleaning your unit! Once your HVAC system is running at its best, you’ll avoid potential issues and prolong its lifespan. Start by using this HVAC checklist today!
1. Schedule Seasonal Maintenance
Before you start using this HVAC maintenance checklist, make sure to look at your calendar. It’s important to schedule seasonal maintenance. Your unit has different needs depending on the season.
During the fall, it’s important to replace your humidifier wick filter. During the spring, when you don’t need heat, you’ll want to turn off your furnace humidifier’s water supply.
Before turning the water back on in the fall, make sure to set your humidistat to 40% relative humidity.
Reviewing your HVAC system in the fall and spring will help you determine if there are any issues. You can also purchase a new unit if your old one is outdated and having issues.
In fact, many issues pop up during the summer and winter when your system is working overtime.
Having a professional look at your system before the busy months is important. Otherwise, they might not have time in their schedule to visit your home.
Are you using an ENERGY STAR qualified product? Choosing an energy-efficient product can cut your annual energy bills by $115. Otherwise, your system will struggle to function properly, which can increase costs.
Make sure to have a professional install your new unit. Otherwise, improper installation can reduce your system’s efficiency by up to 30%. You might notice an increase in your utility bills.
At the same time, your equipment’s lifespan might drop as well.
2. Remove Debris
As part of your HVAC maintenance checklist, it’s important to check your physical unit. Head outside to make sure there’s no debris blocking the filters and coils. Debris can impact your unit’s airflow and impact your system’s ability to function properly.
If your unit has to work double-time to function, it can cause your energy bill to increase.
While you’re outside, look for grass clippings, twigs, pollen, and leaves in front of your unit. Slip-on a pair of gloves and protective eye gear before you start cleaning.
Then, grab a water hose to spray your unit down.
Look around your unit, too. Make sure there’s nothing blocking your system’s airflow, such as thick shrubbery.
Don’t forget to check your system’s vents and registers, too. You can improve airflow by preventing clogs using a solution of bleach and water. Pour the mixture into your unit’s condensate drain to keep mold from growing.
Cleaning out your condensate drain will keep algae and mold from blocking the system’s airflow.
3. Replace the Filters
In order to reduce your HVAC maintenance cost, it helps to check your AC filters every three months. Within a few months, mold, dust, and dander can clog the filter. You could end up breathing in dirty air if you don’t replace the filters regularly.
If the filters are clogged, it can impact the unit’s efficiency. As a result, your system will have to work twice as hard to improve airflow.
Your energy bills might increase as a result.
4. Clean the Coils
While cleaning your HVAC unit, don’t forget to check the coils, too. The coils make sure the unit is working effectively and reliably. If your coils are dirty, the HVAC unit might struggle to work efficiently.
First, make sure the unit is shut off. Then, clean the coils to improve the system’s airflow and your home’s air quality.
Cleaning the coils regularly can help reduce your energy bill.
You can use a cleaning foam that will bond with dirt on your coils before rinsing them off.
5. Check the Lines
As part of your HVAC maintenance checklist, it helps to check your refrigerant lines, too. If a line is broken, your energy bill might increase.
Check the heating and cooling ducts. Are they sealed and insulated? Reviewing your ducts can improve efficiency.
Otherwise, airflow problems can reduce your system’s efficiency by up to 15%.
6. Change the Batteries
When was the last time you took a look at your home’s carbon monoxide detector? Make sure to replace the batteries at least once a year. You need to make sure the detector is working.
Your detector will let you know if there’s a carbon monoxide leak in your home.
If your detector isn’t working, carbon monoxide could cause an injury or death.
7. Adjust the Temperature
It helps to adjust your home’s temperature in the summer and winter months, too.
For the summer, change the temperature to 78 degrees. In the winter, adjust it to 68 degrees.
Changing your home’s temperature will help you save money. It can also keep your system from working overtime, which can impact your energy efficiency.
8. Look for Bent Fins
The next time you use this HVAC maintenance checklist, look at your unit. Do any of the fins look crushed or bent? You can use a dinner knife to adjust the fins as needed.
9. Install a New Thermostat
You might want to consider buying a programmable thermostat to improve your energy efficiency. A new thermostat can help you adjust your home’s temperature, even when you’re busy.
10. Schedule a Service
It can also help to have a professional check your unit every year. Take the time to search for “HVAC maintenance near me.” An HVAC professional can review your system to make sure it’s functioning properly.
If there’s an issue, they can make the proper repairs before your system shuts down.
Scheduling regular maintenance could expand your unit’s lifespan by over 15 years. Otherwise, you might have to make expensive repairs more often.
Your HVAC Maintenance Checklist: 10 Essential Updates
Don’t neglect your HVAC unit. Instead, use this HVAC maintenance checklist to keep your system running at its best. With these tips, you can ensure your system is functioning efficiently throughout the year.
Ready to clear the air? Request an appointment from our team today!
