Preventative maintenance is designed to keep your HVAC system up and running throughout the season with no unexpected breakdowns, allowing you to start the heating and cooling seasons with reliable and efficient service while functioning at peak efficiency. Preventative maintenance should be scheduled twice a year: once in the spring for your cooling equipment and once in the fall for your heating equipment. You can also use this opportunity to ask questions regarding your system and bring up any other issues that need to be addressed.
HVAC Maintenance Checklist
Heating and cooling preventative maintenance, like car maintenance, keeps your system running consistently, safely, and efficiently. You’ll also have the assurance that it will work when you need it the most. Here’s what a service expert will actually do for you when they arrive at your house for HVAC preventative maintenance:
Air Conditioner/Heat Pump
- Optimize the system for maximum efficiency
- Check for leaks of oil and refrigerant
- Check the wear, tension, and alignment of the blower belt
- If required, clean the condenser coil
- Make sure all electrical connections are secure
- Temperatures of the expansion valve and coil should be checked
Humidifier
- Clean the drain line
- Replace the evaporator pad if necessary (additional charge)
- Make sure everything is working properly
- Check the settings on the controls and damper
Furnace
- To get the most out of your fuel, adjust your combustion
- As needed, lubricate
- Look for any signs of combustion
- Evaluate the response to a safety shut-off
- Check the wear, tension, and alignment of the blower belt
- Examine the flue for proper operation and ventilation
- Examine and fine-tune the automatic controls
- Ensure that the burners are clean
- Replace standard one-inch filter
Electronic Air Cleaner
- Clean the equipment
- Check that the cells are working properly
- Check for correct electrical connections in the cells
Maintenance Tasks You Can Do Yourself
Between preventative maintenance appointments, plan to do a few maintenance activities on your own. The following procedures will help keep your equipment working properly until your qualified service expert arrives. These procedures include:
- Clear the area around the outside unit of any debris
- When dirt begins to gather on the outdoor unit, hose it down
- Leave at least 18 inches of foliage between the outside unit and the foliage
- Keep draperies, carpets, and furniture out of the way of the supply and return registers
- The filter should be checked once a month, some models offer a timer-controlled indication light to remind you to check your filter
Wondering Who To Trust With Your HVAC Maintenance?
Superior Mechanical Services, Inc. began in 1948 as a family-owned business with a vision to provide value-minded service with a down-to-earth approach to customers throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. Keeping your heating & cooling systems in good working order means increased comfort in your home and workplace, longer equipment life, lower utility bills, and of course fewer repairs. Too busy or overwhelmed to perform maintenance yourself? No problem! A Superior Club Membership provides peace of mind with twice-yearly inspection and maintenance at a reasonable price. Let Superior keep your system running in tip-top shape, help reduce your utility bills and avoid costly unexpected repairs. Contact us today for more information on how we can save you thousands over the life of your system!
