Maintaining your home’s HVAC system is easier than you think. Although you don’t ever see it, your cooling and heating system are made up of many complex, intricate parts, and in order to keep your home cool in the summer and warm in the winters without costing you an arm and a leg in energy costs, they require care annually at the very least.

This fall, keep your system at peak performance and avoid future heating system issues or furnace repair and unwanted costs by having a contractor do an annual pre-season check-up. Since most HVAC contractors and HVAC installation specialists are most busy in the summer and winter, scheduling your heating system maintenance check-up in the fall and spring are the best times to order your home’s furnace inspection. Here’s a comprehensive checklist of what your local HVAC contracting company will go over when you schedule an appointment for your maintenance check.

A Typical Maintenance Check Should Include:

Check your thermostat. This is an important step, although not usually thought of by most homeowners, it ensures that the cooling and heating system keeps you comfortable and at your optimal temperature when you are home and at the correct temperature while you are away in order to save on your energy bill.
Tighten all electrical connections. Tightening electrical connections within your HVAC system and measuring voltage and current on all motors ensures that your system will have power uninterrupted by any possible electrical issues. Faulty electrical connections can cause unsafe operation of your entire system, reducing the overall lifespan of major components.
Lubricating any moving parts. Any components of your heating and cooling system that require movement should have the ability to move freely and easily—lubrication of those parts is key. A lack of lubrication can cause friction in motors, forcing the system to use more electricity to function and increase your energy bill
Check and inspect the condensate drain. Your central air conditioner, furnace and/or heat pump (when it’s in cooling mode) use a condensation drain to catch any condensation caused from the process of heating and cooling. A full drain that’s plugged up can cause water damage to your system and your house, and even affect your home’s humidity levels.
Check controls of the HVAC system. Check the starting cycle of the equipment to assure the system starts, operates, and shuts off properly.

Heating Specific Point of Check:

Check all gas (or oil) connections, gas pressure, burner combustion and heat exchanger. An important safety check for your heating system is that which focuses on the energy source used to heat your home. Since a gas leak or oil leak can cause a hazardous fire or other health problems, this is a step that should never be overlooked. A dirty burner or cracked heat exchanger causes improper burner operation without a homeowner even realizing.

Actions To Do Yourself:

Inspect, clean, or change air filters. Once a month in your central air conditioner, furnace, and/or heat pump, you should change your air filters. This is an inexpensive and easy way to keep your family healthy by offering them the best air quality possible. If you are unsure as to how to do this properly, request a quick lesson while your contractor is performing their maintenance check

For professional HVAC maintenance service you can trust, United Heating and Air is Southern California’s number one HVAC contracting company. Our technicians are expertly trained and licensed with years of experience in all areas of heating and cooling. Schedule an appointment for a fall heating system check up today and be sure that your family is comfortable and ready for winter. If your HVAC technician does happen to find any problems with your furnace repair like a faulty pilot light or a broken heat pump, you’ll receive a written quote before any repairs are performed. Even if the worst-case scenario occurs and you are looking to buy a new heating system installed in order to replace your old furnace, we carry the most advanced technology in heating and cooling. We’ve got energy efficient models to save you energy and money, and a variety of sizes, models, and brands in all types of furnaces to keep your family warm and your heating system running seamlessly whenever you may need it! Call the experts at Local United today!