Home HVAC Maintenance: Tips for Every Season

Doing seasonal HVAC maintenance will help keep your system operating in peak condition. With the chill of winter and the scorching heat of summer, your furnace and air conditioner is quietly working hard to keep you comfortable. But with a little attention every few months, you can save yourself thousands of dollars in repair or replacement costs and avoid the shock of waking up to your ac not turning on.

Each season has its own challenges for your HVAC, and we'll show you exactly what you should do to keep your unit healthy and strong. A little upfront time, will allow you to sit back and relax as your HVAC tackles each season with ease.

Seasonal HVAC Maintenance Tips For Your Home

Preventative Maintenance

You've probably heard before that changing your filters is critical to keeping your system running at its best, but did you know that having an annual inspection by an HVAC maintenance professional can add years to its service life?

Staying ahead of future repairs can help you avoid expensive emergency service in the future, and prevention is always your better choice. Here are a few of the reasons why having your HVAC inspected every year is important:

• Higher Energy Bills - You'll spend more money on your gas bill because your furnace won't be as efficient. When parts and filters become clogged and dirty, the unit will need to work harder to deliver the same results. Simply put, your HVAC will use more fuel.
• Service Life - Having your furnace inspected may uncover some minor issues that require repair. However, if left unfixed, these minor problems could result in major repairs down the road. Taking care of issues early can reduce your repair expenses in the long run, and in addition add years to the service life of the unit.
• Unexpected Failure - If your furnace develops a clogged pilot or a rusty burner, it could stop working entirely. Although there's never a good time, if it's the dead of winter, this could be very unpleasant and even dangerous! 
• Safety -  If the heat exchanger develops a crack, carbon monoxide could seep into your home. This can create an extremely hazardous environment since carbon monoxide is both odorless and colorless. It's often called the silent killer.
• Structural Integrity - If hot water leaks from the boilers there's a possibility that it could cause a major problem with the structural integrity of your house. 
• Invalid Warranty - Many manufacturers require their units to be inspected annually by a qualified professional in order to keep the warranty valid. 

Fall HVAC Tasks

As the weather begins to get cooler, it's time to start thinking about your furnace again. In most cases, your furnace has been sitting unused during the summer months, and taking some time now will prepare it for the upcoming workload. Not to mention, help prevent an unexpected breakdown.  

Having a trained professional conduct an annual inspection on your furnace means they'll be able to look and clean deep inside the furnace and find any potential problems. They'll also change your air filter for you!

Since the demand on a furnace is in the winter, you should have it  inspected in the late fall / early winter. We highly recommend using the same company to inspect both your furnace and air conditioner as they can ensure that a plan is in place for your entire HVAC system.

Winter HVAC Tasks

If you followed the fall HVAC maintenance tasks listed above, your job in the winter will be much easier. Still, you'll want to keep an eye on your system's performance and react quickly to any problems. Having your furnace fail is never good, but failing during the winter could be dangerous.

Spring HVAC Tasks

As your furnace begins to work less, it's time to start thinking about "waking-up" your air conditioner from it's winters rest. Spring is the best time to conduct your AC annual inspection, and many company's offer discounts to schedule early.

A professional will clean the unit and replace your filters, as well as check and adjust the refrigerant levels. They'll oil the motor, clean the condenser and evaporator, check the hoses and belts to make sure they are in good working order, and basically do a deep dive into the unit so it's prepared for the punishing summer heat.

DIY Spring Tasks

Okay, we know the DIY people out there are going to want to complete the spring check-up themselves. Even though we try to convince you to have your AC professionally inspected, you're still going to want to undertake the job yourself.

Although, we highly recommend having a professional come out at least every few years, here's a list to help get your AC unit up and running for the summer.

• Giving your AC unit a good cleaning will help make sure that the air that's cooled is both safe and clean to bring into your household. After all, the unit has been sitting gathering dirt and dust for the last few months.
• Clear the area of all debris and foliage that may have accumulated over the winter. There should be at least 2-feet of open space to allow for proper ventilation.
• Use a hose and clean the condenser coil (be sure to allow them to completely dry).
• Clean the drainage hole with a small wire. It's located below the evaporator fins.
• Check the insulation on the coolant line. Replace the foam if it's torn.
• Check the fan. If it doesn't start, call a professional for repairs.
• Wipe down the unit and remover any dirt or grime that may have collected over the past few months.
• If your furnace has a humidifier, it should be turned off.
• Change your filters.

Summer HVAC Tasks

In most areas, summer is when your air conditioner is at its busiest. If you haven't called for your annual AC inspection yet, you should do so soon. It's critical that your air conditioner is in good repair and prepared to keep your family comfortable during the warmest of days.