Your HVAC Maintenance Checklist for Spring

Without a doubt, seasonal HVAC Maintenance of your AC system helps ensure it will run as efficiently as possible. Don’t take our word for it—hear it from the Department of Energy.

Some of the maintenance tasks your air conditioner needs are simple and can be completed by most homeowners. Some tasks take specialized equipment and training and should not be attempted by the average homeowner. Below is a list of maintenance tasks that should be completed annually. This will let homeowners determine whether they are prepared to complete the tasks, or if they need to call a professional HVAC maintenance technician.

1. Change the air filter every three months. When your AC cycles on, the blower motor is drawing the entire volume of air in your house every 1 or 2 minutes, depending on the size of the house and the power of the blower motor. If the AC cycle lasts 15 minutes, the air filter is removing airborne particles each trip through. When airborne particles clog the filter, it reduces the airflow and causes stress on the system. This is easily a do-it-yourself project. Just change the air filter.
2. Maintain the thermostat. The thermostat is the sensor and switch combination that turns your HVAC system on and off. The thermostat batteries will need to be changed periodically, and it is an easy DIY project. A technician can demonstrate scheduling temperature changes on your programmable or smart thermostats. A good HVAC schedule can save as much as 10 percent on your monthly utility bill.
3. Inspect and clean all indoor equipment. Dust and allergens that make it past the air filter often collect on interior surfaces and electrical components inside the AC cabinet. A technician can clean away the dust, test the capacitors, and switches to make sure they are all functioning properly. The evaporator coils and drain pan need to be cleaned annually to remove the dust particles trapped by the moisture.
4. Clear the air conditioner drain. If dust and debris are not removed from the drain pan before the AC is turned on, the debris can clog the drain tube. If the clog is not removed water will overflow the drain pan and leak onto the surrounding floors. This can lead to water damage to floors, walls, and furnishings, a costly mistake.
5. Test refrigerant gas levels. The AC uses a refrigerant gas that is compressed to between 65 and 70 pounds per square inch. Under high pressure, the gas will find any weakness in the system for escape. An HVAC Maintenance professional will test the gas level and replenish the supply as needed. This takes someone licensed to handle the gases. A technician can also determine whether repairs are needed to stop a leak.
6. Check all the electrical connections. Since the AC has moving parts, vibrations can lead to wear, damage, and even loose connections. A technician will know where to look for these connections and can repair or replace them as needed.
7. Inspect and clean the outdoor equipment. The compressor unit found outside your house must be kept clean and free of debris. The unit’s central fan is drawing air in and up, to cool the hot refrigerant gas. Cooling this gas is vitally important; failure to cool will lead to a very expensive component failure. If you do not care to clean this unit adequately, a technician will make sure leaves and grass clippings are cleared away and the tiny opening surrounding the unit is kept free of dirt to ensure adequate airflow.
8. Inspect and clean the ductwork. Supply air ducts run from your AC to each room in the house and return air ducts run from various regions of the house back to the AC. Ducts should be clean and inspected occasionally. Dust can accumulate inside ducts, especially at drops and turns. Since the sheet metal of the ducts is constantly expanding and contracting, leaks and gaps can develop allowing conditioned air to leak out into unconditioned areas. Inspection and repair will take specialized equipment.

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