Consistent HVAC maintenance is important for your indoor air quality, comfort and HVAC system. To ensure you are taking proper care of your HVAC system, take a moment to read OnTime Service’s HVAC maintenance checklist below. This guide will give you tips on how you can increase the life of your HVAC unit, so that it doesn’t cost you expensive repair jobs in the future!
1. Change Your Air Filter
A clogged air filter can lead to worsening indoor air quality, a frozen evaporator coil or a malfunctioning heat exchanger. It can also reduce air flow and force your system to work overtime. If your unit is giving you any problems or its performance is getting worse, the first thing you should do is check your air filter—chances are it might be clogged.
Changing your air filter is one of the easiest ways you can ensure your unit is well-maintained. Plus, it can reduce your system’s overall energy consumption by 5 to 15%, according to the Department of Energy. Changing your air filter is an easy process that doesn’t take more than five minutes. Ideally, you should change your filter once or twice a month, depending on how many occupants you have in your home.
2. Inspect Your Outdoor Condenser
The outdoor condenser is an important component of your HVAC unit, which is why it should be kept in good shape. Every month take a few minutes to inspect the condenser and make sure there is not vegetation blocking its path—it is best to have a clearance of 2 ft around the condenser. In addition, make sure its fins aren’t bent and it isn’t covered in excess dirt.
To clean it thoroughly, follow this quick step-by-step guide:
Make sure you have gloves and eyewear handy. Then, turn off the unit and use a vacuum brush attachment to gently clean the outer part of the condenser—make sure you don’t bend the fins.
Spray the external coils with coil cleaner—make sure you get a cleaning agent based on your HVAC system’s manufacturer’s recommendation.
Use a hose to wash off the coil cleaner.
3. Inspect Your Vents and Registers
The return vent is where conditioned and clean air is blown into your home, whereas the supply vent is where your unit absorbs indoor air. It’s important your vents are clean, dust-free and not covered by any furniture. Make sure these vents are unblocked and clean them frequently—use a vacuum brush attachment to remove any dust and wipe them down using a clean, damp cloth.
4. Book an Annual Maintenance Appointment
While there are some maintenance tasks you can handle yourself, there are others that must be done by professionals. It’s important to have your HVAC unit inspected at least once a year, to ensure it is in proper shape. Annual maintenance appointments can save you expensive repairs in the future and improve the overall efficiency of your unit.
Need HVAC Maintenance? Contact OnTime Service!
We hope this HVAC maintenance checklist was helpful. If you have any questions about HVAC maintenance or you need to book an annual maintenance appointment, contact the pros at OnTime Service! Call us today at 205-942-1405 or schedule a service online!
