What is preventative maintenance and why should I worry about it?

Heating and cooling systems work very hard for your indoor comfort. They are constantly starting and stopping and under continous operation any machine no matter how well designed or constructed can wear down, sometimes quickly and seeming unexpectedly.

Preventative maintenance - the act of inspecting and taking corrective action if conditions warrant thereby perventing future or unexpected breakdowns.

Perhaps the best preventative maintenance example we can cite is the way most responsible individuals take care of their car(s). Most of us know how to check the oil, gas, radiator, windshield wiper fluid, battery fluid, and brake fluid. Doing these things for your car is prevenatative maintenance. Even those who don't feel qualified to take these simple steps will take their car to a qualified mechanic to have them done, this is still performing prevenatative maintenance.

However, when it comes to heating and cooling systems most of us don't feel qualified to maintain them. There are things you can do that will certainly improve efficiency and performance as well as increase your indoor comfort system's service life.

Self inspection and preventative maintenance for your heating system

• Change the filters once a month.
• Set the thermostat to a comfortable temperature of 68 degrees and leave it there, even when you're not home.
• Remove anything that's crowding the furnace, fresh air flow is essential.
• At the end of summer have the furnace inspected and serviced by a licensed service company.

Self inspection and preventative maintenance for your cooling system

• Change the filters once a month.
• Set the thermostat to a comfortable temperature of 78 degrees and leave it there, even when you're not home.
• Remove anything that may be crowding your outdoor condensing unit, i.e. grass clippings, leaves or any other debris. Remember, first turn off the power and turn it back on when you're finished.
• At the begining of spring have your cooling unit inspected and serviced by a licensed service company.

What requires preventative maintenance?

Whether your system is residential or commercial pretty much everything associated with heating or cooling systems will require inspection and maintenance. This includes: ductwork, pipes, dampers, valves, chimneys, air registers, radiators, pumps, blowers, fuel lines, gas meters, oil tanks, and every part of the actual furnace and/or boiler.

What about my airduct system?

Changing the filters on a monthly basis will go a long way in preventing dust buildup in an airduct system. But, often this may not be enough because nothing is foolproof, so if or when dust collects it can create a suitable environment for mold, mites and harmful bacteria to grow.

Check your airduct system for dust buildup by pulling off several supply and return registers and see how much dust has accumulated. If any dust or debris is found use a vacuum cleaner to remove anything you may find there. If after removing all the dust and debris found there you still find that dust builds up quickly schedule an airduct cleaning by a professional service company.

What is the most efficient and effective way to keep my heating and cooling system running for a long time?

The most efficient way of keeping your heating and cooling systems running smoothly and effectively is to perform the preventative maintenance procedures mentioned above. But the most effective procedure is to setup and establish either a one, two or three year maintenance plan. This way you'll be assured that inspections and preventative maintenance are performed at regular intervals.