HVAC Maintenance 

If your HVAC system isn’t producing the fresh air you need, it may need maintenance. If you’re not sure it’s worth the time, consider the following reasons:

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• Dirt makes HVAC equipment work harder. Heat pumps and air conditioners all function by transferring heat. The transfer surfaces work best when they’re free of grime, dust, or other obstructions. Cleaning HVAC equipment and replacing dirty filters will save energy and lower costs.

• Small adjustments can yield big savings. You can create substantial savings by turning up the thermostat of your air-cooling device just 2-3°F or by adjusting the automated settings of your heat pump’s supplementary electric-resistance heating elements.

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To improve efficiency and reduce costs even more, have a service technician perform the following maintenance items on an annual basis:

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• Check thermostat settings to ensure the cooling and heating system keeps you comfortable when you are home and saves energy while you are away.

• Tighten all electrical connections and measure voltage and current on motors. Faulty electrical connections can cause unsafe operation of your system and reduce the life of major components.

• Check and inspect the condensate drain in your central air conditioner, furnace and/or heat pump (when in cooling mode). A plugged drain can cause water damage in the house and affect indoor humidity levels.

• Check controls of the system to ensure proper and safe operation. Check the starting cycle of the equipment to assure the system starts, operates, and shuts off properly.

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Cooling Specific

• Check evaporator and condenser air conditioning coils. Dirty coils reduce the system's ability to cool your home and cause the system to run longer, increasing energy costs and reducing the life of the equipment.

• Check your central air conditioner's refrigerant level and adjust if necessary. Too much or too little refrigerant will make your system less efficient increasing energy costs and reducing the life of the equipment.

• Check and adjust blower components to provide proper system airflow for greater comfort levels. Airflow problems can reduce your system's efficiency by up to 15 percent.

 

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Heating Specific

• Check all gas (or oil) connections, gas pressure, burner combustion and heat exchanger. Improperly operating gas (or oil) connections are a fire hazard and can contribute to health problems. A dirty burner or cracked heat exchanger causes improper burner operation. Either can cause the equipment to operate less safely and efficiently.

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Actions to Do Yourself

• Inspect, clean, or change air filters once a month in your central air conditioner, furnace, and/or heat pump. Your contractor can show you how to do this. A dirty filter can increase energy costs and damage your equipment, leading to early failure.

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Sign Up for Maintenance Reminder 

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