When we come out twice a year for the preventive maintenance service included in our Service Partner Plan, we thoroughly inspect your HVAC system and perform several different maintenance tasks as needed. While we can perform your SPP maintenance services at any time of year, the steps we take can vary slightly depending on the season.
People often think of spring and fall as the times of year for maintenance, but we can perform your SPP service in the winter too. As long as it gets done twice a year, that’s what matters most! Let’s take a look at what we do for preventive maintenance in the winter.
Thermostat
First on our evaluation checklist is your thermostat. We’ll check that your thermostat is correctly calibrated, properly mounted, and programmed to best suit your needs. Your thermostat controls the rest of your HVAC system, so it’s important to make sure it’s working properly.
See Also: Thermostats
Air Conditioner/Heat Pump
Next, we’ll check out your air conditioner or heat pump. This includes checking for refrigerant leaks and refrigerant pressure. If the refrigerant needs to be recharged, that’s best done when the outside temperature is above 65F.
In the winter, it may be too cold for this. If you’re using a heat pump for your heating, you may want to schedule maintenance in the fall to ensure that your refrigerant is fully charged for the winter.
We also check the electrical components of your air conditioner or heat pump. This includes measuring the amps of the compressor and condensing fan motor, as well as checking the outdoor capacitor.
Cleaning the outside coils is another step that we usually perform in the SPP service. However, this cannot be done if it’s very cold outside. As long as the coils get cleaned once a year that should be sufficient, so just make sure to schedule your other SPP service during a warmer time.
We also check things like the growth of shrubs and other plants around your unit. If these plants or other debris like piles of fallen leaves get too close to your unit, they can block airflow.
See Also: Daikin Heat Pumps
Duct System
Your ductwork is another important but often overlooked part of your HVAC system. Our winter maintenance service includes checking that your ducts are properly insulated and strapped. It is also necessary to check that the boots and filter box are sealed.
We check your return and supply static pressure to make sure that your system has the right amount of airflow through the ducts. We check that your registers are clean to reduce dust, and we even check out the condition of your dryer vent.
See Also: Air Distribution: The Most Underrated Aspect of HVAC System Design
Indoor Air Quality
Evaluating indoor air quality issues and inspecting and maintaining IAQ equipment is part of our winter service too. We’ll check the condition of your return air filter to see whether it’s getting changed often enough.
And we’ll ask questions about allergies and sinus issues to help determine whether IAQ products might be helpful for your home. We also look for mold growth on surfaces and inspect room humidifiers and air cleaners.
See Also: Why Do You Need Indoor Air Quality Products?
Air Handler/Furnace
If you have a furnace, we’ll check all gas connections for leaks, check the heat exchanger, make sure that the burners are clean, and check that you have a working carbon monoxide detector in your home.
Since the weather is cooler, winter is a great time for a thorough furnace inspection. We’ll perform combustion analysis and check the gas pressure along with checking switches and vent piping.
For the air handler and evaporator coils, we check the blower motor’s amps and its capacitor, along with the condition of the coils and the blower wheel. We also check the drain pan and drain lines to make sure the lines are clear and draining properly.
However, we cannot clean the drain lines if the weather is below freezing. Again, make sure you schedule your SPP services so you can get this done at least once a year.
See Also: Daikin Gas Furnace Comparisons
Electrical
Finally, we check the electrical portion of your HVAC system. This includes inspecting the disconnects, breakers, and wiring, as well as checking circuit boards for burn marks.
See Also: Contact Us