If It Ain’t Broke, Keep It That Way
The old adage “If it aint broke, don’t fix it” is applicable to many aspects of home maintenance. However preventative maintenance is essential to ensuring that your HVAC system is operating efficiently. According to some of our leading manufacturers preventative maintenance checks should be done twice a year, once in the fall and once in the spring. Here are a few things professionals will check for when performing routine preventative maintenance checks on various types of systems.
Outdoor Units
- Inspect base pan for restricted drain openings & remove obstructions as necessary
- Inspect coil and cabinet—clean as needed
- Inspect fan motor and fan blades for wear and damage—on older models lubricate as needed
- Inspect control box, associated controls/accessories, wiring and connections. Controls may include contactors, relays, circuit boards, capacitors, sump heat and other accessories. All control box and electrical parts should be checked for wear or damage.
- Inspect compressor and associated tubing for damage
Indoor Units
- Inspect and clean blower assembly (includes blower housing, blower wheel and motor)
- On older models, lubricate motor and inspect and replace fan belt if needed
- Check combustion blower housing for lint and debris and clean as necessary
- Inspect evaporator coil, drain pan and condensate drain lines. Clean as needed
- Inspect for gas leaks in gas furnaces
- Inspect burner assembly—clean and adjust as needed
- Inspect ignition system and safety controls—clean and adjust as needed
- Inspect heat exchanger or heating elements
- Inspect flue system—check for proper attachment to the furnace, any dislocated sections, and for signs of corrosion. Replace if necessary.
- Inspect control box, associated controls, wiring and connections
- Clean or replace air filters
- Inspect conditioned airflow system (ductwork)—check for leaks
While Your System is Operating
- Monitor system starting characteristics and capabilities
- Listen for abnormal noise
- Search for source of unusual odors
- Monitor air conditioning and heat pump systems for correct refrigerant charge
- Measure outdoor dry bulb temperature
- Measure indoor dry and wet bulb temperature
- Measure high and low side system pressures
- Monitor gas furnace for correct line and manifold gas pressure—make adjustments as needed
- Measure temperature rise and adjust airflow as needed
- Check vents system for proper operation
- Monitor system for correct line and load volts/amps
- Monitor system operation per manufacturer’s specifications
- Provide system operation report and recommend repairs or replacement as necessary
Having routine preventative maintenance done on your HVAC system can not only give you peace of mind, but it can also help you maintain lower energy costs. If your system isn’t cleaned and properly maintained, gunk build up can cause your system to work harder to meet demands. Your system can quickly become overheated and overworked, and consequently parts may need to be replaced. To replace most HVAC parts is substantially more expensive than the cost of preventative maintenance.
