What is Involved in HVAC Maintenance?

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The HVAC system, like any other installation, requires regular  maintenance and care. If you don’t clean and maintain the system, its  performance will start to slip and eventually the entire system will  fail. This will force you to spend money on heating system replacement.  Regular maintenance ensures the HVAC delivers consistent performance and  lasts after a long time.  
The best way to ensure your system works well is to hire a  professional to handle the job. You can opt for annual HVAC maintenance  contracts at an affordable cost. Here’s what you can expect from HVAC  maintenance:
1. Inspecting and Changing Filters
Filters can get dirty easily, especially if you live in a location  that can be dusty. The HVAC system filters trap all kinds of dust,  debris, germs, and clean the air. They’re responsible for maintaining  the indoor air quality. If they’re not cleaned and replaced regularly,  your HVAC system will eventually stop performing as you expect it to.  The heating and cooling will be inefficient and the indoor air quality  will worsen. Inspecting and changing the air filters is one of the most  important aspects of HVAC maintenance.
2. Visual Inspection of the Entire System
You should get your HVAC system visually inspected at least once  every year to make sure all the systems are working well. This  inspection is an important aspect of HVAC maintenance. If you don’t get  your system inspected, you won’t notice a problem until it stops working  in the middle of winter. That’s the last thing you want because you  will have to hunt for alternative heating sources until the system is  repaired. Regular inspection and maintenance also helps keep it in good  shape and prolongs its life.
3. Cleaning and Removing Debris
Dust and debris don’t just settle in the filters. They can also  collect on blowers, moving parts, condensing units, and other such  important aspects of your HVAC system. A light layer of dust is  unavoidable but too must debris can cause a lot of damage to the HVAC  system. A professional will carefully clean all the accumulated dust and  debris and make sure there’s no corrosive damage to the internal  systems.
4. Checking the Condensate Drain
The condensate drain in your air conditioner and heat pump should  be free of all clogs and debris. Clogs can obstruct the flow of  condensed water and cause moisture accumulation within the system.  Excess moisture can cause problems like mold, water damage, high levels  of humidity in  the property, uneven temperature regulation, bacteria, and compromised  air quality. A professional maintenance technician will flush and clean  the condensate drain to ensure all excess moisture flows away from the  system.
5. Checking the Thermostat Settings
Most HVAC systems now have programmable thermostats that allow  property owners to control the temperature and set it on a schedule. For  example, you can set the thermostat to lower the heat when you’re not  in home to save money on the energy bills and ensure the system isn’t  overburdened. A professional technician will check the thermostat during  the annual maintenance to ensure the actual temperature and the  temperature on the thermostat matches. If there’s a difference in the  temperature, the technician needs to check the thermostat’s performance  or assess the entire HVAC system.
6. Checking the Electrical Connections and Voltage
Most people don’t realize that the HVAC connections and systems can  come loose or break over time. That can compromise the performance of  the system and eventually damage it enough that you need to invest in  furnace replacement or AC replacement. The maintenance technician will  carefully examine the connections and evaluate the performance of the  system. They’ll look for frayed and damaged wires and replace them in  order to minimize the risk of fire and component failure.
7. Lubricating Moving Parts
HVAC systems have moving pasts in compressors, circulation units, and furnaces. These moving parts need to be  lubricated regularly to minimize friction and the resultant wear and  tear. The technicians will carefully clean and remove all traces of  debris from the moving parts and apply the required amount of lubricant  to control friction. This process should be repeated often to protect  the HVAC system from excessive damage.
8. Inspecting Exhaust Outlets
The exhaust outlets allow all dangerous gases to escape your property  so there’s no risky buildup of carbon monoxide and other such gases. If  the exhaust outlets are clogged, they can lead to a dangerous build-up  and compromise your safety. The technician will assess all of these  aspects of your system and check the chimney flue and vent stack as  well. They will look for signs of corrosion, leaks, and back draft and  repair the problem during their maintenance runs.
9. Checking Fuel Lines and Connections
The fuel lines that supply gas to your furnace should also be  inspected regularly. Leaking gas and fuel can be a fire hazard.  Disconnected fuel lines can compromise the efficiency of the HVAC system  as well. Soot can accumulate in burners and cracked heat ex changers can have an impact on the system’s efficiency as well. The maintenance  technicians will assess all of these aspects of the furnace and  carefully and remove all clogs and traces of soot.
10. Checking the Refrigerant Levels
Your air conditioner should have enough refrigerant in it to cool the air efficiently. If there isn’t enough refrigerant  , the compressor will  have to work harder to achieve the desired level of temperature. That  can cause extensive damage to the system and eventually force you to  replace it.
If you want professional installation and expert consultation on HVAC systems, don’t hesitate to contact Pete's Heat 630-398-2832