Fall and Winter HVAC Maintenance

As the seasons change from summer to fall, it’s beneficial to perform maintenance on your HVAC systems. Maintenance can prolong the life of your equipment, help you maintain a comfortable environment, and can even help save money. 

As we transition from fall to winter, it’s important to take the time to ensure your HVAC systems undergo maintenance. In this blog, we will show you what maintenance you can perform as a homeowner and the advantages and details of professional maintenance.

DIY VS Professional Maintenance 

As a homeowner, there are plenty of things you can and should do to properly maintain your HVAC system, however, there are some things that should be left to a professional. 

Homeowner HVAC Maintenance

As a homeowner, there is a lot you can do to maintain the efficiency of your unit. This maintenance is fairly simple and can be done by nearly anyone. Here are some of the things you should do regularly to maintain your HVAC systems:

• Change your air filters regularly
• Clean your vents
• Keep your outside unit clear from debris and dirt
• Swap out the batteries in your thermostat

Of course, what you are able to do depends on your HVAC knowledge and physical limitations.

Professional HVAC Maintenance

There are things we can do as homeowners, but some things should just be left to a professional. A professional HVAC technician knows what to look for and can perform maintenance safely and quickly. Here are some of the maintenance tasks that a professional can perform:

• Visual and functionality inspections
• Cleaning of the unit including the coils, drains, and mechanical elements
• Safety operations
• Refrigerant pressure

The biggest benefit that comes with professional maintenance is having a professional examine your system for any potential problems. They will be able to catch issues promptly or stop small things from becoming bigger problems. 

Without the proper knowledge, a homeowner could end up doing more harm than good when attempting to perform maintenance on any mechanical parts.

What Professional Maintenance Includes

The purpose of professional maintenance is twofold. Certain maintenance functions help keep an HVAC system in good working condition but maintenance also allows potential issues to be found before they become major issues. 

When it comes to performing maintenance every HVAC company will have a maintenance checklist that they follow. Most of the essential tasks will remain consistent no matter where you go, but some companies offer more while others offer less. 

To get an idea of what’s included in a professional maintenance plan, we’ve included the things we check and tasks we perform during our maintenance inspections:

• Refrigerant Pressures
• Heat Exchanger- Primary*Secondary
• Safety Control Operations
• Vent Piping- Chimney For Proper Draft
• Relays, Contacts, Thermostats, And Capacitors
• Motors, Wheels, Pulleys, And Props
• Clean Evaporator And Condenser Coils
• Clean and treat Drains, Pipes, And Pans
• Furnace Temp Rise
• A/C Temp Differential
• Clean Blower Assembly
• Check and tighten all Exposed Electrical Connections
• Tighten Any Loose Bolts Or Screws- Lubricate Moving Parts
• Defrost Cycles
• Aux Back-Up Heat Operations
• Air Filter
• Gas Leaks In Furnace
• Visually Inspect For Refrigerant Leak
• Clean Flame Sensor
• Clean Burners And Pilots
• Carbon Monoxide Levels
• Proper Voltage- Amperage
• Igniters
• Ductwork At Furnace For Excessive Leakage
• Visual Observation of System for Safe Proper Ops

In addition to the service checklist, our maintenance clients also receive priority scheduling, discounts on parts, and discounted diagnosis fees.

As you can see, professional HVAC maintenance goes far above and beyond what a normal homeowner would be able to do which is why so many individuals choose an annual maintenance plan.

How much does maintenance cost?

Just like the maintenance performance checklist, each company will also have its own maintenance fees. The national average cost of professional HVAC maintenance is between 
$150 and $300. We found that here in Maryland, HVAC maintenance costs are on par with the national average costing around $150-$300 as well. 

Here at Maxair, however, we offer a maintenance plan to Maryland residents for $79. So, as you see, maintenance costs vary from company to company. As you review costs and companies, weigh the benefits, what’s included in the plan and then make your decision.

HVAC maintenance in Maryland

Many Maryland homeowners ask if maintenance is worth it. Because Maryland does not have extreme climates like certain states, it’s thought that maintenance is less important. We believe that it is beneficial no matter where you live. 

Rust, debris, dirty filters, and coils will happen to every HVAC system and will drain the efficiency and effectiveness of the unit over time. And, if there are any leaks or minor issues that go unchecked it could ruin a system causing the homeowners to require a replacement sooner than necessary. 

However, the choice of whether to hire a professional for maintenance is up to each homeowner. We understand that this can be a tough decision which is why we offer additional benefits like parts and diagnostic discounts to ensure our clients are getting the best value for their money. 

If you have any questions about HVAC maintenance, feel free to give us a call.