DIY HVAC Maintenance Checklist

Having a Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system installed in your residential or commercial building is extremely vital, as it will enable you to achieve a comfortable indoor temperature at all times regardless of what the weather is like outside. However, what is the point of having a HVAC system if it does not work properly?

With that said, here is a checklist with simple maintenance tasks that you can do on your own, to keep your HVAC system functioning efficiently:

1. Regularly Inspect Ducts for Damage

Commonly located in non-conditioned spaces such as garages, attics, crawl spaces, or basements, the duct system of your HVAC is the heart of your cooling and heating system. Therefore, the first and most important maintenance task of your HVAC system is to inspect the system to ensure that the ducts are in top shape. If you notice any form of damage, make sure to have the ducts replaced right away.

2. Clean or Replace Your Filters Every Month

The air filters in your HVAC system can be located either in a grille in the wall or ceiling, inside the blower compartment of your air handler or furnace, or at the top, bottom or side of your furnace. The task of these filters is to prevent particles such as dust, pollen, or mold spores from entering and clogging up your HVAC system.

However, with time the air filters themselves become clogged, rendering the system ineffective, or worse, causing it to burn out. The best way to avoid these situations is to either remove and clean your air filters if you have the washable type, or replace them every month. Replacing the filters is as simple as removing the dirty ones and installing new ones of the same size.

3. Conduct Regular Checks on the Electrical and Wiring Components

Considering that HVAC systems are kept running all the time to ensure proper ventilation and heat a building up during the winter, or keep it cool during the summer, chances of overheating are very high. Therefore, you should regularly check on the electrical and wiring components of your system for signs of overheating, such as blackened wires, or melted insulation.

To do this, you will first need to disconnect the power to your HVAC system and then remove the access panel of the condensing unit in order to begin your inspection. Make sure to be thorough in your inspection and ensure that all connections are tightly secured while you are at it. Any damaged wires will need to be replaced immediately, before they cause short circuits and further trouble.

4. Dust the Vents

Just like the air filters in your HVAC system, the vents in your system can also get clogged by a variety of particles. Since these vents are tasked with the responsibility of ensuring proper airflow, once they are clogged, the air circulation in your residential or commercial building will be affected.

The good news is that unlike blocked filters (which may require replacing), clogged vents can be easily cleaned by dusting or vacuuming them on a regular basis. So, schedule at least one day a month to conduct checks for clogging on the vents in all the rooms of your home or office.

5. Examine the Fan Blade

Located inside your system’s condensing unit, the fan blade of your system is required to be in top shape for the HVAC system to work properly. Therefore, make sure to regularly clean and inspect the fan blade for cracks or any other form of damage.

6. Lubricate Moving Parts

Without proper lubrication, parts of your HVAC system can cause friction in the motors, causing the system to consume more energy than necessary. Therefore, one of the important DIY maintenance tasks for your HVAC system is to ensure that all the moving parts are properly lubricated so that the system will work as it should.

Regular maintenance on your system is a must, and with proper maintenance, you will be able to enjoy a variety of benefits including enabling the system to run more efficiently, last longer, avoid breaking down, keep your interiors more comfortable and save you from incurring high power bills too.

Dan McKee heads up the marketing efforts and provides digital marketing strategies to the marketing team at Service Champions in California.