Many homeowners have often asked the question, staring into a ceiling vent blowing tepid air on a hot summer’s day: Can you do your Hvac system maintenance yourself?
Should you maintain your HVAC system yourself?
The answer is yes – conditionally. Just like with owning a car, there are some things you should do yourself and other times you really ought to go into the shop (or in this metaphor, call an HVAC technician).
You don’t have to get an HVAC certification or start attending your local HVAC trade shows to do the basic maintenance required to keep calls to service techs to an infrequent minimum. Here are FieldPulse’s top tips for understanding, diagnosing, and maintaining your HVAC system.
Understanding your HVAC System
HVAC – or actually HVAC/R – stands for Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration.
Most laypeople leave off the “R” and for the purposes of this tutorial so will we. (It’s there not just because HVAC techs can work on your refrigerator but because air conditioning systems use refrigerant to help cool the air in your home.)
If your home is like a body, then the HVAC system is its arteries and veins. After all, modern humans are used to the conveniences of heating and cooling to remain comfortable and happy, which only happens with a functioning HVAC system.
Most Americans in their homes and businesses likely have a “forced air” HVAC system, which uses a series of ducts and vents to convey heated or cooled air throughout the home. Within this system, there are filters to replace regularly, motors and coils to check, and condensers to drain, among other things.
Note: Homes not using a forced-air system – like baseboard heaters or radiant heating – will have different concerns.
Given HVAC’s importance to the home, it’s a wonder more homeowners don’t spend more time learning the basics of Hvac Maintenance, both to save on wear and tear – and future equipment replacements – as well as give themselves a break on their monthly energy bill.
When to perform HVAC maintenance in your home or business
The best time to perform HVAC maintenance on your home is at the turn of a new season. That means if you can stick to a biannual schedule, you should try to perform HVAC maintenance on your home in the Spring and Fall before the very hot or very cold weather kicks in.
That’s common sense. You want to do maintenance on your system before you’re expecting to turn it on or shoulder heavy loads.
And that way, if something’s gone really wrong, you have time to fix it before it’s a household emergency (this also allows you to shop around a bit to get the best HVAC tech to come out possible).
Do-it-yourself HVAC system maintenance
Ready to D-I-Y? Here’s a list of HVAC maintenance you can attempt without professional experience, listed from the easiest to most challenging. Judge for yourself how handy you are and when you want to grab your phone and right a pro.
1. Change your air filter
Truly the low-hanging fruit of HVAC maintenance is regularly changing your HVAC system’s air filter.
Air filters are cheap, changing them is simple – just find the vent in your ceiling, pop the tabs, and swap our your old, dirty filter for a new clean one – and this simple act can add years to your HVAC system’s life.
Clean filters put less pressure on the system by making the motors work less hard to pull in and push air through your home.
Try changing the filter at least every few months and as often as every month during hot summer months when the air conditioning is running full blast. The more pets and assorted hair and dust floating around your house, the dirtier your filter will get quicker as well, so use your judgment based on the needs of your particular household.
2. Clean your vents
While you’re busy changing your air filter, now’s a good time to clean the registers – those floor and ceiling vents that open and close – around your house.
Use a vacuum, feather duster, or a damp cloth to get at the dust bunnies and buildup. Clean the vents on the filter intake while you’re at it.
3. Cycle units on and off and listen closely
“Have you tried turning it off and on again?”
This well-hewn piece of tech-fixing advice also applies to your HVAC system. You’ll want to cycle down any elements of the system that are running and try turning them on in sequence.
This accomplishes two things. First, it tests to make sure your thermostat is working correctly (this is how you’ll cycle the units on and off). Then, it ensures the units are working and gives you a chance to listen closely to your system in a non-daily use scenario.
Listen for rattling, whining, and signs of unit strain. This can help nip small problems in the bud before they become big ones.
4. Visually inspect your air conditioning and heating units
Some problems in waiting can be uncovered by a simple visual inspection.
For a central air conditioning unit, that means removing debris from in and around the unit (while it’s turned off) and inspecting refrigerant lines leading into the house for cracks, leaks, and other wear and tear.
For your furnace, make sure to check the lines running to and from the unit for any leaks, excessive corrosion, soot, or disconnections that could pose a hazard.
5. Make sure outdoor units are level
This step’s really simple. If you have outdoor central air conditioning or heating units (yes, some people have heating units in standalone casings outside their homes) it’s important to make sure these units are level.
Why? It might seem like a small thing, but if a big heavy A/C condenser isn’t level, it can not only eventually tip and damage itself, but fluid inside the condenser will not travel correctly.
A condenser that’s not level will put more strain on the pump and shorten the life of the unit.
6. Check exhaust outlets and replace batteries in your carbon monoxide detector
Over on the “H” side of things, while this step of ensuring you have fresh batteries in your carbon monoxide detector doesn’t do anything directly for your HVAC system, if your heater has exhaust issues or clogs, a working carbon monoxide detector could save your life.
You can also take this opportunity to climb into your attic or basement to check the heater vent stack for any obstructions.
7. Inspect the condensate drain on your A/C and heat pump or furnace
Now we’re getting into “might want to call a professional” territory.
HVAC systems generate excess water and condensation through the natural process of heating and cooling your home. That water has to go somewhere.
Seeing as water is both naturally corrosive and can promote bacterial and algae growth, you’ll want to check both the evaporator and condenser coils on your cooling unit for signs of dirt and buildup as well as check the condensate drain lines to make sure your units are draining properly.
This is also a good time to pour a cup of bleach and water into the condensate drain to kill any mold or algae that might be growing in there – something you should do approximately once per year.
When to call a professional HVAC technician
This is about as far as we’re willing to take do-it-yourself HVAC maintenance. At a certain point, unless you’re planning on getting an HVAC certification and going into the business, it’s best to rely on a pro.
When to do this is based in part on your comfort level. If you’re unsure of how to proceed, err on the side of caution and call an HVAC tech. No use being penny wise and pound foolish and potentially making a costly mistake.
Get a yearly tune-up
Even if you feel very handy, consider having a pro do a yearly or twice-yearly system tune-up. This usually costs around $100, but they will produce a thorough check of your system and report on anything they find.
This is also an opportunity for you to ask questions about your system and plan for future spending on your HVAC instead of waking up to a nasty surprise.
Have the cooling system checked in the Spring and the heating system in the Fall, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star program recommends. In addition to simply being smart forethought, this also hits up contractors before they get overscheduled in the peak summer and winter months.
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