Most HVAC breakdowns give warnings first. These simple seasonal steps help you catch problems early and keep your system efficient between professional tune-ups. Always turn the system off at the thermostat before touching any equipment.
Spring: before the first heat wave
- Replace or check the air filter.
- Clear leaves, weeds and debris at least two feet around the outdoor unit.
- Gently rinse the outdoor coil with a garden hose from the inside out if it is dusty. Do not use a pressure washer.
- Run the AC on a mild day to make sure it cools before you need it.
- Schedule a professional AC tune-up to check refrigerant, electrical parts and the condensate drain.
Summer: peak cooling season
- Check the filter monthly. Long run times load filters quickly.
- Keep the indoor and outdoor units clear, and keep sprinklers from spraying the outdoor unit constantly.
- Watch for ice on the refrigerant lines, water near the indoor unit or warm air from the vents. Turn the system off and call if you see any of them.
- Pre-cool the house before SMUD's higher-priced summer weekday evening hours instead of cranking the thermostat down later.
Wildfire smoke: late summer and fall
- Keep windows closed during smoke events and recirculate indoor air.
- Use a MERV 13 filter if your system can handle it, and run the fan continuously while smoke lasts.
- Replace the filter after a heavy smoke week.
- Ask us whether a media filter cabinet or purifier would help. See indoor air quality.
Fall: before the first cold morning
- Replace the filter again.
- Run the heat on a cool afternoon. A dusty smell for a few minutes is normal; a burning or gas smell is not.
- Test your carbon monoxide alarms. California requires them in homes with gas appliances.
- Schedule a professional furnace or heat pump tune-up to check burners, venting, safety controls and the heat exchanger area.
Winter: foggy, chilly months
- Keep supply and return vents uncovered by furniture and rugs.
- If you have a heat pump, a short defrost cycle with a little steam from the outdoor unit is normal.
- If the furnace short-cycles, makes new noises or will not light, turn it off and call.
When to call a professional
Call right away if you smell gas, your carbon monoxide alarm sounds, you see ice or water around the equipment, or the system makes grinding, banging or squealing noises. For gas smells, leave the house first and call PG&E or 911 from outside.
The easiest way to stay on schedule is our Comfort Club, which covers a spring AC tune-up and a fall heating tune-up each year. Call (916) 715-0076 to join or book a visit.