HVAC Maintenance Checklist

If you love your home, you should keep up with it, so it stands the test of time. Maintaining an efficient home saves you money on costly repairs and ensures your home will keep its value for a long time.

Maintenance does not just mean a new paint color in the bedroom or a fancy reorganized pantry. Maintaining the structure or “bones” of the house is the most critical work, including keeping up your home’s HVAC system.

The most common reason heating and air conditioners require repairs or completely shut down is primarily caused by not keeping up with maintaining the unit. An air conditioner does not have to be old to quit working. Lack of maintaining your HVAC system throughout the year can signal trouble for your heater and air conditioner.

One of the items on any home maintenance list should be a regular check-up of your HVAC system. If you follow the tips and checklist Air Control recommends below, you should have a healthy, working HVAC system for years to come.

Checklist for Maintaining your HVAC

It does not take a lot of time or effort to keep your heater and air conditioner running well for a long time. The best way to maintain a HVAC system is to make the process as bearable and straightforward as possible. There are numerous checklists online to help you maintain your HVAC system, but the checklist below keeps the job simple and easy.

Perform these tasks regularly to maintain a home’s HVAC system.

Monthly

Change Air Filters

Yearly

Inspect and Clean AC Unit
 Improve Air Flow
 Power on System
 Check Thermostat
 Schedule Yearly Check-Up

Change Air Filters

One of the easiest ways to keep your air conditioner running effectively is to change the furnace air filters throughout the house every month. Air filters capture dirt, pollen, dust, mold spores, and allergens in the air before they compromise the air quality. When air filters become clogged, it makes the air conditioner work harder to push out air, which reduces efficiency and energy savings.

It does not take long for air filters to get full. Changing air filters monthly will help keep the air clean and keep the air conditioner working efficiently.

Some air filters can last longer than one month. The items listed below describe the different air filter types.

Standard

The standard air filter is usually made of fiberglass with a cardboard frame and is one-inch thick. These filters are the least expensive but have to be changed out monthly. A standard air filter works well to keep the components of the HVAC system running smoothly but does not do the best job cleaning the air.

Pleated

Pleated air filters are about two to five inches thick and made of cotton, paper or polyester. Pleated filters can be replaced every three months and are recyclable. Pleated filters cost more than standard filters, but since they are only changed out every three months, they are still a good value.

HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air)

A HEPA is a standard set by the U.S. Department of Energy that measures the effectiveness of a filter cleaning particles from the air. HEPA filters act like a pleated filter but remove a more considerable percentage of the large particles in air such as pet dander, dust mites and allergens.

If you have respiratory issues, frequently cook with heavy oils, have smoke in the house, or are concerned about the home's air quality, HEPA filters are a great option. However, because HEPA filters trap larger particles, smaller particles such as dust and dirt may pass through the filter.

Washable

Washable filters are also an option. These filters are more expensive but can last up to 10 years if washed regularly. Every month, washable filters need to be cleaned and dried to maintain efficiency. Infrequent washing causes clogs to form in the filter. It is also important to fully dry the filters before reinstalling them; otherwise, mold can grow on the filters.

Air Control offers an air filter maintenance program, where an Air Control technician comes out on a regular schedule to replace the air filters in your home. The air filter change-out service is an excellent option for those who do not want to bother remembering to replace the air filters and ensure the air conditioner runs smoothly from month to month.

Inspect and Clean the AC Unit

To maintain your air conditioner, inspect and clean the outside condensor unit at least once a year. Follow these general steps for inspecting and cleaning an outside AC condensor unit.

For more detailed instructions, read our "Maintaining Your Home Air Conditioner" blog post at: https://www.aircontrolcorp.com/post/maintaining-your-home-air-conditione

Check that the outside unit is free of clutter and debris.
Make sure the electrical cords are not damaged.
Notice if the drain pan is not overflowing with water. Fix any holes or cracks in the drain pan.
Inspect the outside fins for any damage. Damaged fins can be repaired using a fin repair tool specifically designed for air conditioners. Fin tools are available online or at home improvement stores.
Clean outside fins if necessary with an air conditioner fin brush (also available online or at home improvement stores).
Clean the inside unit with a condensor cleaning spray product and a hose. Do not use a water pressure/power washer as this may damage the fins. Also, make sure to power off the AC unit before cleaning the unit.
Clear and clean the drainline or drain tube. The drainline is the pipe you see coming out of the unit into the home. The drainline carries water from the condenser coils inside the house to the exterior. Over time, mold and mildew build-up in the tube and cause clogs, preventing water from going out.

To remove clogs:

Turn off the power to the AC unit.
Use a Shop Vac or hand vacuum to suck out any clogs.
Pour one cup of bleach into the drain line, to clear out the line. If there are no clogs, skip to cleaning the line with bleach.
Check that the insulation wrapping the outside lines is still in good shape. If your lines are not insulated, consider calling Air Control to add insulation to the lines. Insulating lines helps improve the efficiency of the air conditioner.

Improve Air Flow

To maximize the HVAC system’s efficiency, you will want to make sure air can flow easily throughout the inside spaces of the home. To do this, remove anything covering floor vents and open all vents.

It is normal for one room in a home to have more cool or hot air than another room for various reasons. A lot of people choose always to have a vent closed in a room for this reason. However, a closed or blocked vent only makes the HVAC system work harder. Air forces through the system to where it is designed to go resulting in more airflow problems.

Power and Thermostat Check

If you have not turned on the air conditioner or heater for a long time, each season, power on the system. Make sure both the outside and inside unit power on. If the system does not power on:

Check the circuit breaker has not been tripped.
Make sure all of the electrical cords are plugged in, and the wiring is not damaged.
Check that the thermostat is working correctly. If the display does not turn on or does not respond when you change the temperature, it probably needs new batteries, or the circuit is tripped.

If the thermostat powers on, try changing the temperature. If the AC or heater does not come on, it means the thermostat is not working, and is not a problem with the HVAC system. To determine if you need a new thermostat, follow these steps:

Turn off the power to the thermostat, including the breaker circuit.
Take the thermostat off the wall, and open up the back panel.
Look for the red and green wires. Unscrew the wires from the compartment and wrap them together.
Step away from the wiring, and turn the breaker and power back on.

If the heater or AC turns on, you will need to replace the thermostat.

Schedule a Yearly Check-Up

Even with regular maintenance, a yearly check-up of your home’s HVAC system by an Air Control technician is a must. Technicians inspect and clean areas that are not easily seen or are hard to fix without the proper equipment and HVAC system training.

A yearly check-up consists of the maintenance listed above, but also much more.

Cleaning, inspecting and adjusting the following components:

Venting system
Burners & heat exchangers for corrosion and cracks
Combustion for optimal fuel efficiency
Blower assembly
Electrical system control panels & boards
Thermostat
Clean condenser coil
Clean condensate drain line
Disconnect panel
Measure refrigerant level

Inspecting the HVAC system's vitals, including:

Fuel pressure
Flue draft diverter/motor volts and amps
Blower motor volts and amps
Blower capacitors
Refrigerant for optimal cooling
Compressor contactor
Condenser fan capacitor
Compressor capacitor
Compressor voltage/amperage
Fan motor voltage/amperage

Once your HVAC system has received its seasonal check-up, the technician will present you with a checklist showing the results of your system's vital signs. At this time, you have the opportunity to accept or decline any necessary or recommended repairs or replacements. Both parties receive a copy of the signed result for their records.

Air Control in Northwest Arkansas offers a Tommy’s Club membership, which includes two seasonal check-ups (spring and fall) to evaluate and assess the health of the HVAC system. It also includes:

Priority scheduling for emergency repairs
10% discount on needed parts
No after-hour fees

A yearly check-up of a home’s HVAC system is critical to maintaining a solid working system for a long time. The Tommy’s Club membership is an excellent option for the seasonal check-up and if you do not want to manage keeping up with your HVAC system yourself.

Call Air Control today for more information on a yearly check-up for your HVAC system.