Your heating and cooling system require a lot of attention, which isn’t the case with other types of appliances. There are a few maintenance tasks you’ll want to perform if you want to keep your system running at peak performance. However, there are some tasks that an expert should only perform. It’s good to know what tasks you should do and when to do them because this is how you’ll extend your system’s life, conserve energy and prevent smaller problems from becoming bigger problems.

Let’s face it, HVAC systems have a habit of breaking down at the least desirable times. Download this checklist today and you’ll be on your way to ensuring your HVAC system runs at its highest efficiency.

Maintenance Checklist

1. Landscaping-

Have a look at the outside units and if there is grass covering it or debris on it or around it, then remove them. Trim down trees, plants, and shrubs too. If pine needles and leaves fall onto the unit, then remove them. Besides that, keep items away from the units, and these items include garden supplies, bicycles, and toys, to name a few.

2. Visual Inspection-

Inspect your system regularly. Doing this will help you discover issues that an expert should take care of. This includes dirty condenser coils or a dirty evaporator, frozen coils, water leaks, and so forth. Also, if you hear strange noises or vibrations, then call an expert right away.

3. Change Filters-

Change the air filters to your air conditioning unit. Do this at least once every 12 weeks, as this will ensure maximum airflow. If you have the instructions that came with your system, then refer to it to find out how often it recommends changing the filters. Bear in mind that when heat weaves strike or cold snaps, then your HVAC equipment is subjected to a lot of punishment. This is why you should change the filters more frequently. When cold snaps or heat waves occur, then consider changing the filters once per month.

4. The Thermostat-

Adjusting your thermostat when the temperatures changes is a good idea. This will prevent your HVAC system from becoming overloaded. Set the temperature to a number that isn’t hotter or colder than room temperature or than conditions outside. If you’re not sure how to adjust or program your thermostat, then don’t worry. Simply give a professional a call, and they’ll do it for you, or they’ll guide you through the process of how to do it.

5. Electrical Connections-

When connections are disconnected, broken or loose, then your system’s safety can become compromised. Call an HVAC company if you cannot easily plug a loose connection into its proper spot.

Fall & Winter Maintenance Tips

1. Professional Maintenance-

When Autumn arrives, call an expert to perform a thorough inspection and annual maintenance. The expert will check various components of your system, and this includes electrical connections, fuel lines, and the condensate drain, to name a few.

2. Carbon Monoxide Detector-

A lot of people use natural gas for their system. If you do, then make sure your carbon monoxide detector has new batteries. Test it out too because you want to make sure it is working properly. In general, replace your carbon monoxide detector every 4-5 years.

3. The Furnace-

In the fall, you should turn the water supply on. The humidifier wick should be replaced too.

4. Ice-

If ice has accumulated on your HVAC equipment, then call an expert because sheets or blocks of ice can be difficult to remove. If it’s only small amounts of ice, then go ahead and remove it. As for snow, dust it off if it has accumulated on your equipment.

Spring & Summer Maintenance Tips

1. Professional Cooling System Maintenance-

Before the warmer weather arrives in the spring, let an HVAC company send out a professional to inspect your AC. They will check lines, connections, coils, and more. They will also clean any components that are dirty, and they will lucubrate any moving parts.

2. Inspect Refrigerant Lines-

There are copper lines that connect into the condenser, and you want to locate those lines. Also, there’s a larger line you’ll want to locate. If the larger line doesn’t have to feel cold when you touch it, then you’ll want to have an expert look at it right away. This could be a sign that the refrigerant levels are low.

3. The Furnace-

The furnace has a water supply, but you want to turn it off in the spring.

The truth is that HVAC problems seem to arise at the most inconvenient times. As long as you performer regular maintenance on your system, then you can prevent many potential problems. Just make sure you don’t get too carried away with DIY work on your system. If you run into an issue you’re totally clueless about, then contact an expert right away.

A proper understanding of the moment when your furnace reaches the end of its lifespan can be complicated. On the other hand, the last thing you need is to discover this surprise in the middle of the winter, right when you need to keep your house warm. Once a furnace reaches ten years, or more, you should monitor it often to evaluate if your furnace is about to break and you need a new one.

Here are some signs to indicate you could be needing to update your heating system.

An Unexpected Increase In Your Monthly Heating Bill

If your heating bill rises out of the blue, that is a warning sign about your furnace needing maintenance and attention. First, analyze your previous heating bills and check if there are discrepancies with the current month. Make sure to pay attention to the amount of energy used by your furnace, and not the dollar amount variance. If you are using energy in the same way, but your bill is still rising, that is a strong sign that the energy efficiency of your furnace is not the same as before.

A Dustier Or Dryer Home

As your heating system approaches the end of its lifespan, keeping the air moisturized and clean becomes a harder task. During the winter, the air is colder and dryer. If you or a family member suffer from sinuses or a dry skin condition, perhaps there are air leaks in your house that allow warm and humid air to escape outdoors, or perhaps your humidifier is set too low.

In general, older furnaces used air from your home for combustion. This is the process that dries the air in your home. It creates a vacuum indoors that sucks dry and cold air from outdoors inside, through crevices and cracks around windows, under doors, or even within the home’s structure. Modern furnaces use outdoor air for combustion. They allow your house to maintain better levels of indoor humidity.

Also, if you notice an increase in the quantity of dust settled on your home’s furniture, or even clinging to your walls, that is a sign your air purifier is no longer working as it should, or that it is time for upgrading your old heating system.

Uneven Inner Temperatures In Different Rooms Of The House

When heat is not distributed correctly in your home, that is also a sign that something is funky with your ventilation and heating systems. The temperature throughout different rooms should be one and the same. When they are not, it is a sign your old furnace struggles to keep temperatures balanced, your ventilation ducts are dirty and need cleaning, your windows and doors need re-sealing, or all three.

Strange New Noises Coming From Downstairs

Older furnaces are noisier. That is a simple fact. However, new and unfamiliar noises should be treated seriously. Squeaking, banging, rattling, and so on, are all signs that your furnace has arrived at the end of its lifespan. Another warning sign is when your furnace’s blower operates sporadically, turning itself frequently on and off, or even blowing cold or cool air. If that is happening, you should call a pro to perform a furnace and blower motor inspection.

Visible Rust Signs

Rust is a terrible sign. If you see rust anywhere in your furnace or rust dust on the floor around it, that could mean there is even more corrosion inside your furnace. That is another sign your furnace needs to work much harder to perform its natural job of keeping your home warm.

Yellow Furnace Flame (Danger!)

Checking the color of your flame is something that can and should be done while you or your technician verify the furnace for corrosion and rust. A blue flame is normal. A yellow flame means carbon monoxide production, which could bring deadly consequences for you and your family. If this is your case, leave your house immediately and call your trusted professional right away.

Your Furnace Has Already Been Repaired In Multiple Occasions

If your furnace requires more than simple, normal maintenance more often than it should, you should start doing the math and consider purchasing a new one. That is even more important if you are paying over and over for the same repair. On the surface, it looks like a large investment, but it saves you great money in the longer run.

Even though all of the above advice can be sure signs you need to substitute your old furnace, it is also possible that your system needs a tune-up. No matter what, it is wise to have professional technicians inspecting your ventilation (HVAC), cooling, and heating systems annually. Remember: your home’s HVAC system condition directly impacts your family’s health and the value of your home and property.

Ever wanted to see how an HVAC system works? Consider visiting the Boulder Heating, Ventilation and air conditioning gallery to see our HVAC systems in action. We have hundreds of systems from dozens of different manufacturers. You can turn them on and see how they cool in action. Pay us a visit today and you won’t be disappointed.