Annual HVAC Maintenance – Hype or Help?

Stop making air conditioning jokes, I’m not a fan!

Being a homeowner comes with a lot of responsibilities. HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Cooling) maintenance isn’t the most glamorous activity, but it’s essential to have a comfortable home. Regular maintenance is important for preventing heat pump, furnace, and air conditioner breakdowns, just as regular auto maintenance keeps your car running smoothly. As with taking care of your car, you and your trusted heating and cooling company work together to ensure the longevity of your heating and air conditioning units.

During your annual HVAC maintenance, your HVAC technician will conduct a multi-point inspection and tune-up, to ensure your units are running in the most energy-efficient manner possible, as well as to identify and correct any developing issues before they become larger and more costly issues to resolve.

You, as the homeowner, also play a part in seasonal maintenance, to ensure your home’s ideal comfort level, by taking the following steps:

• Change air filters in your central air conditioner, furnace, and/or heat pump every three months, at a minimum. If your air filters seem to get dirtier faster, it is okay to change them monthly. (Pet owners sometimes find that their air filters need changing monthly.) A dirty or clogged air filter can increase energy costs and damage your equipment, leading to early equipment failure. If you don’t have experience checking your filter, your air conditioning contractor will be happy to go through the process with you.

• There is a right and a wrong way to install your air filter. For help, check out this tutorial on how to change your HVAC air filter.

• Set a monthly reminder in your paper calendar, or on your phone or computer, to check your air filters, and to replace them every quarter, at a minimum.

• Go ahead and purchase air filters in bulk and store them in your garage, so you’ll have them on hand when your reminder alerts you. Not sure which are the best air filters to buy? You can check out our tutorial on how to choose the right air filter.

• Don’t know where to buy them? You can purchase them at your local hardware store, like Home Depot or Lowes, or you can order them online from companies like Discount Filters. 

Your HVAC service technician who performs your seasonal system tune-up should perform the following tasks:

• Check your thermostat settings to ensure the cooling and heating system is keeping you comfortable during the day and saving energy at night.

• Measure voltage and current on motors and tighten all electrical connections. Having faulty electrical connections can result in unreliable operation of your system and shortened component life.

• Make sure all moving parts are well lubricated. A lack of lubrication causes friction in motors and increases your electricity consumption.

• Make sure the condensate drain in your central air conditioner, furnace, or heat pump (when in cooling mode) is clean. A clogged drain can cause water damage in the house and affect indoor humidity levels.

• Ensure proper and safe operation of the system by checking the controls. Verify that the equipment is starting, running, and shutting off correctly before you leave the premises.

TL;DR? (Too long, didn’t read?) To ensure your home’s comfort and to avoid unnecessary repair costs, Pipe Wrench Plumbing & HVAC will keep your furnace and air conditioning equipment in top-performing condition. Changing air filters every quarter is a team activity, and your Pipe Wrench team takes it home when you need it the most. Don’t suffer extreme temperatures alone! We’ve got you covered.

Want to save money on maintenance and receive a reminder call to schedule? Check out our Peace of Mind maintenance membership plan!

Haven’t enlisted the help of an HVAC company yet for regular maintenance, and want to check us out? Book Online today!