HVAC preventative maintenance guide for DIY homeowners

Your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system keeps your home comfortable throughout the year. Annual HVAC maintenance keeps your home warm in the winter and cool in the summer without experiencing unnecessary costs or breakdowns.

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An HVAC has lots of moving parts, so regular maintenance service is essential to keeping it running smoothly. Learn more about HVAC preventative maintenance, when to perform each task, and the average HVAC yearly maintenance cost for homeowners.

How maintenance affects the HVAC system's performance and lifespan

Whether you're doing the maintenance yourself or hiring someone else, the return on investment for regular HVAC preventative maintenance is well worth it.

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Performing monthly, quarterly, and annual HVAC maintenance provides the following benefits:

• Fewer repairs: During HVAC system maintenance, small problems can be found before they become larger. This reduces your overall cost and minimizes periods when the unit isn't operating. Deferring maintenance for too long can shorten the lifespan of your equipment.
• Safer equipment operation: HVAC units can be dangerous if they aren't serviced regularly. Fires can start due to bad wiring, overstressed motors, and similar situations. Regular maintenance can spot problem areas before they become a hazard.
• Longer lifespan: On average, an HVAC system has a lifespan of 15 to 25 years. However, this can vary widely based on the type of system purchased, how it is used, and whether the owners performed regular HVAC preventative maintenance.
• Lower energy consumption: AC systems and heaters perform more efficiently when they are properly maintained, resulting in lower energy bills.
• Improved air quality: Small HVAC maintenance tasks like changing air filters can provide a drastic improvement in the air quality of your home. Additionally, when your AC system is operating efficiently, it can exchange the air in your home more quickly to provide better air quality.

Download a full home maintenance checklist to keep your property in shape here.

HVAC maintenance checklist

HVAC monthly/quarterly maintenance

The most frequent tasks are fairly simple for the homeowner to perform. By doing these yourself, you can reduce your HVAC maintenance costs by avoiding service calls by a technician.

• Air filters: Check and change air filters every three months to ensure proper airflow and system efficiency. You can buy air filters online or at your local hardware store. Most filters can be replaced within a few minutes.
• Keep indoor vents clean: When replacing your air filter, take time to vacuum and wipe down indoor vents. Also, make sure they are free of debris and are not blocked by any furniture.
• Wash outdoor unit: Dust and debris can affect the efficiency of your outdoor unit. Once a month, clear debris and cut back plants that are too close. Then, wash it down with a hose to remove dust and dirt.

HVAC seasonal maintenance (Spring and Fall)

Twice a year, your HVAC requires seasonal maintenance to keep it operating efficiently. A licensed technician should perform this seasonal maintenance because they have the tools and experience to spot minor problems before they become expensive repairs.

• Refrigerant leaks: Refrigerant enables your HVAC to properly cool your home. Have a professional check refrigerant levels and address leaks during seasonal tune-ups.
• Thermostat malfunctions: A malfunctioning thermostat causes the HVAC unit to misunderstand the temperature inside the home. This can lead to your HVAC not understanding how much heat or cool air to send to your living space. Check thermostat operation and calibration before the start of each heating and cooling season.
• Electrical issues: Electrical issues can lead to fires, burnt-out equipment, or inefficient operations. Inspect electrical connections, relays, and capacitors as part of seasonal maintenance.
• Ductwork leaks: Leaks cause the HVAC to work harder to deliver hot or cold air to your living space. Perform inspections and repairs on ductwork before each cooling and heating season.

HVAC annual maintenance

Annual HVAC maintenance involves a deeper inspection of your heating and air conditioning units to ensure they're working properly. In most cases, these tasks are best performed by licensed HVAC contractors. However, some homeowners have the time and skills necessary to do DIY maintenance.

• Compressor problems: Check compressor health and functionality during yearly HVAC maintenance.
• Frozen evaporator coils: Regular maintenance helps prevent frozen coils and ensures optimal cooling performance.
• Condensate drain clogs: Clear condensate drains during annual HVAC maintenance to avoid water leakage.
• Blower motor and fan issues: Check blower motors and fans during yearly inspections for proper operation.
• Strange noises: Address unusual noises during yearly maintenance to prevent potential system breakdowns.
• Uneven cooling or heating: Investigate and resolve temperature distribution issues during yearly maintenance. Homeowners can survey their vents to isolate which ones aren't working efficiently. Then, share that information with the licensed technician so they can focus their efforts quickly to address the issues.
• Short cycling: Identify and rectify short cycling problems during annual HVAC check-ups.
• Dirty condenser coils: Clean condenser coils as part of yearly maintenance for improved cooling performance.
• Aging equipment: Assess the overall health of aging equipment during annual HVAC inspections.
• Carbon monoxide leaks: Check for carbon monoxide leaks as part of annual safety inspections. Carbon monoxide (CO) is known as a silent killer because these noxious fumes are often undetectable by a human nose. Therefore, it's wise to install a CO detector in the home to protect against carbon monoxide leaks.

The cost of HVAC maintenance

The average cost of an HVAC replacement is $5,000 to $11,000. HVAC maintenance costs also vary based on the type of HVAC system you have and the problem. Here's a sample of average maintenance and repair costs you may see:

• AC unit: $150 to $650
• Furnace: $125 to $480
• HVAC ductwork: $200 to $700
• HVAC coil cleaning: $100 to $400
• HVAC duct cleaning: $300 to $700
• Tune-ups: $150 to $300

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Don't let cost deter you from necessary work. If you need cash to repair or replace your HVAC, explore a:

• Home equity loan: Lump sum payout in exchange for fixed monthly payments. To qualify, you'll need a credit score above 620, stable income, and sufficient equity.
• HELOC: Flexible line of credit to borrow funds as needed. You'll have interest-only payments during the draw period and principal-plus-interest payments during the repayment period. Homeowners need a credit score above 620, a decent income, and at least 20% equity.
• Home equity investment (HEI): Lump sum payout in exchange for a percentage of the home's future appreciation. No monthly payments over a flexible 30-year term. To qualify, you'll need a credit score above 500 and sufficient equity - there are no income requirements.

Final thoughts

Regular HVAC preventative maintenance and tune-ups keep your unit operating efficiently and catch problems before they become major expenses. With the average cost of a new HVAC at $5,000 to $11,000, you want it to last as long as possible. Following a regular maintenance schedule extends the life of your unit and keeps your energy bills lower throughout the year.