A seasonal HVAC checklist

A few minutes each season keeps a heating and cooling system healthy. Here is what you can do yourself, and what a professional tune-up adds.

Through the year

Before and during the heating season.

Check the furnace filter and replace it if it looks dirty. In the coldest months, look at it every month.
Set the thermostat to Heat and make sure the system starts before the first cold night.
Test your carbon monoxide and smoke alarms and change their batteries.
Keep the space around the furnace, boiler and water heater clear of storage.
Keep vents and radiators free of furniture and heavy curtains.
After a snowstorm, clear snow from the heat pump's outdoor unit and from any vent pipes on the outside wall.

Before and during the cooling season.

Check the filter again. The air conditioner moves air through it too.
Clear leaves, grass clippings and branches from around the outdoor unit, leaving about two feet of space on every side.
Rinse the washable filters in mini split indoor units.
Turn the air conditioning on before the first hot day to make sure it cools.
Watch for water around the indoor unit. It can mean a clogged drain line.
Keep blinds closed on hot afternoons so the system does not have to work as hard.

Small habits that catch problems early.

Look around the base of the water heater for water or rust.
Listen for new noises, and note when they happen. It helps the technician find the cause.
Keep an eye on energy bills. A jump with no change in the weather can mean a system is struggling.

Some checks need tools and training. A yearly visit covers what a homeowner cannot safely do.

When to book

Book heating maintenance in the fall and cooling maintenance in the spring, before the busy season and before you need the system most.

Tell us what is going on. You get the price up front, and we show up on time.