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Regular HVAC preventative maintenance is essential for keeping your system running efficiently and avoiding costly repairs.
Over the years, I've helped many homeowners get more involved in their own maintenance.
In this guide, I’ll share a complete checklist to help you maintain your HVAC system, improve performance, lower energy bills, and enhance indoor air quality.
Key takeaways
ACLAB disclaimer:
Work on gas and electrical appliances should be performed by a licensed and trained professional. Safe electrical and gas protocols should be followed.
Annual preventative HVAC maintenance checklist
I typically recommend bi-annual HVAC preventative maintenance, but if you have a newer machine that’s been well-maintained, you can get away with annual HVAC maintenance.
Before checking off any of the tasks on this HVAC maintenance checklist, always refer back to your HVAC warranty and hire an HVAC technician when necessary.
Some of these tasks can be completed on your own, but for several things, it’s better to have a professional on your side.
Preventative checklist for air conditioner and heat pumps
To make sure this doesn’t happen to you, regular maintenance of both cooling equipment and heating equipment is a must.
Important note:
Air conditioners and heat pumps share many similarities, but they also differ in some aspects. Your maintenance schedule and checklist may differ slightly and it is best to check with the unit's manual or with an HVAC professional.
Here are the main tasks to add to your maintenance checklist when it comes to the AC and heat exchanger:
Related article: Top options for central air conditioning
Whole house humidifier maintenance
If your HVAC furnace is built with a connected humidifier, that’s next up on the annual preventative maintenance checklist.
A humidifier is super helpful, especially for cold weather.
It controls the moisture levels throughout your home, making the air feel warmer, less dry and healthier.
This ultimately means that your HVAC can operate smoothly at lower temperature settings to save on energy costs.
My table shows your ideal relative humidity levels based on your goals.
Goal | Below 40% | 40% - 50 % | Over 60% |
|---|---|---|---|
Best for total home comfort | |||
Ideal for allergy sufferers | |||
Manage asthma symptoms | |||
Avoid respiratory illnesses | |||
Stop the spread of viruses | |||
Negate static electricity | |||
Discourage bacteria and mold growth | |||
Fight dust mites |
To assist your humidifier, here are a few essential yearly tasks for maintaining your HVAC humidifier:
Furnace maintenance
The furnace is an essential part of any HVAC system, and planning ahead is important to keep your furnace operating for the long run.
Furnaces can be powered by four different fuel types: gas, electricity, propane, or solar energy.
If you have a traditional gas furnace that connects to gas lines, I suggest hiring a professional to perform any furnace-related services.
There are a few maintenance tips you can follow to ensure that your furnace operates for a longer period of time, including:
Checklist for electronic air cleaner maintenance
Many HVAC units are built with an electronic air cleaner to promote a healthier environment throughout the home.
Sometimes referred to as ionizers or purifiers, air cleaners are essentially just filters that use electrically charged material to reduce the risk of airborne contaminants.
To maintain an electronic air cleaner, follow these steps:
Related article: Comparing air purifiers and ionizers
Schedule annual servicing with a professional
Most of the tasks listed so far can be performed by an HVAC technician during yearly inspection.
Even if you choose to do maintenance on your own, you should still have your system checked every year.
During a professional inspection, the tech should provide reliable and efficient service, providing you with a full evaluation of the entire system, ranging from the AC and heat pump to the furnace and air cleaner.
If you have a newer HVAC system, inspections should be included in your warranty policy (at least for the first few years of usage).
Useful tip:
Even if you have to pay out-of-pocket, inspection costs aren’t too bad, typically ranging from $75 to $150.
Seasonal maintenance tips homeowners should be following
Because I live in a climate that has significant spikes in temperature depending on the season, I perform seasonal maintenance on my HVAC system - once in the spring or summer and once in the fall or winter.
Even if you live in a temperate climate that stays consistent throughout the year, biannual regular maintenance is a good idea.
Here’s the full checklist for HVAC preventative maintenance based on the season:
Spring and summer maintenance
Depending on where you live and the typical climate, spring is the perfect season for a biannual maintenance plan.
You can check that everything is working properly before the summertime heat hits, particularly when it comes to HVAC cooling systems.
Here’s a complete list of cooling maintenance tasks to ensure proper operation during the hotter months of the year:
Useful tip:
Depending on your experience with HVAC, many of these tasks can be completed on your own. Still, if you're not comfortable or you don't have the time, you should hire an HVAC pro to help.
Fall and winter maintenance
Fall is another great time for performing preventative maintenance on your HVAC system.
This gives you the chance to check the heating system and make sure it’s ready to take on the colder climate conditioners.
Here’s a full list of fall and winter preventive maintenance tasks.
You’ll notice that it’s very similar to the spring and summer maintenance checklist, but there’s a greater emphasis on the heating components of HVAC systems:
Related article: How to test your HVAC low pressure switch
Things to consider before attending to your HVAC system
There’s one big question to ask yourself before performing a tune-up to your HVAC unit: Can I do this job myself, or is it necessary to hire a professional?
While many HVAC maintenance-related tasks can be done as a DIY job, some require special skills and tools that the average homeowner doesn’t have.
Here’s a quick rundown of the maintenance tasks that typically require professional expertise:
Cooling coil cleaning
Compared to most homeowners, professional technicians have the expertise, equipment, and resources to complete this task thoroughly.
They use high-pressure water to remove any sediment built up on the cooling maintenance coils.
Drainage system inspection
Built-up condensation can cause major problems when not properly removed from the drainage system.
If the excess fluid seeps out of the drainage tube onto wood flooring, it can cause permanent damage.
A trained service technician can inspect the drainage system thoroughly and has the tools and equipment needed to clean it up quickly.
HVAC maintenance tasks to DIY
While some services are best left to the pros, there are a few tasks you can do on your own so that your HVAC continues to run at peak efficiency.
How often should you do HVAC preventive maintenance?
Every HVAC system requires regular maintenance, but the frequency of your maintenance plan depends on a few things.
While I suggest biannual maintenance to ensure that your system is working properly, you can easily get away with an annual maintenance regimen depending on a few key factors:
Related article: Ranking the top 20 air conditioner brands
Why it’s important to keep up with HVAC maintenance
With HVAC components tucked away and out of sight, it's easy to neglect routine maintenance.
This won't do you any favors, and there are several reasons why it's important to perform maintenance on the reg:
Related article: Understanding portable air conditioner running costs
FAQs
How long does HVAC maintenance take?
HVAC maintenance typically takes between 1 and 2 hours for a professional technician. However, if you’re doing it on your own with no professional help, expect it to take longer.
What parts of your AC need preventative maintenance?
Air conditioning components that require proper maintenance include the filters, coils, and fins of the system.
Paying close attention to these parts will not only prevent AC system failure but also lower energy bills.
What happens if you don’t change your air filters?
If you don’t change your HVAC air filter, you could be looking at complete HVAC system failure.
The build-up of dirt and debris can lead to several potential problems, including poor air quality, increased monthly energy bills, and even complete failure of heating and cooling systems.
