Maintenance Tips

Before the first cold snap, turn the furnace on and let it run for a few minutes to make sure it starts up and heats properly. Catching a problem in October beats catching it during a January cold spell.

If you run a humidifier, swap in a fresh pad before heating season starts. A worn pad cannot hold moisture, so your system works harder for less comfort.

If your home has an air-to-air exchanger, pull the core out in late summer or early fall, rinse it clean, and let it dry completely before putting it back. Check the outside intake screen too. Leaves and debris love to pile up there, and a blocked screen chokes airflow to the whole system.

Check your furnace filter monthly during the heating season and change it when it looks dirty. A clogged filter restricts airflow and makes your furnace work harder than it needs to.

Give the area around your furnace some breathing room. Do not stack boxes or storage against it, and keep vents and returns clear throughout the house.

Keep an ear out for new noises, short cycling, or uneven heating room to room. Those are usually early warning signs, and it is easier for us to fix something small than something that has been ignored all winter.

Before the first warm stretch, flip your thermostat to cooling mode and let the air conditioner run for a few minutes. Make sure the breaker for the outdoor unit is switched on. It is common for that breaker to get bumped off over the winter.

Walk out to the condenser and clear away leaves, mulch, and last year's plant growth. Airflow around that outdoor unit matters as much as anything happening inside your house.

This is also a good time to book a spring tune-up. A technician can check refrigerant levels, electrical connections, and the condenser fan before the summer heat actually arrives.

Keep your filter clean all summer. A dirty filter is the single most common reason an air conditioner struggles to keep a house cool.

Every so often, hose off the outdoor condenser coil from the top down to clear dust and grass clippings. Always switch the outdoor breaker off first before you spray it down.

Keep at least a couple feet of clearance around the outdoor unit. Shrubs, fencing, and debris pressed right up against it choke off airflow and make the whole system work harder.