HVAC Maintenance

A heating and cooling system should have maintenance performed twice a year — once before the heating season and once before the cooling season. A thorough maintenance visit covers cleaning the system's coils, checking and lubricating all components, inspecting all electrical systems, and verifying refrigerant levels, among other items. Keeping up with this schedule is one of the most effective ways to extend the life of your equipment and avoid unexpected failures.

HVAC filters should be checked regularly and changed as needed — for most homeowners, every one to two months is about right. A clogged filter can cause the system to operate improperly, reduce efficiency, and shorten its service life.

Leaky ductwork doesn't always make itself obvious, but there are signs worth watching for — rooms that are significantly harder to heat or cool than others, higher than expected energy bills, or excessive dust throughout the home. A licensed HVAC technician can perform a duct leakage test to identify how much conditioned air is escaping and where. In many homes, duct leakage is a significant source of energy loss that goes unaddressed for years.

There are several products available for your heating and cooling system that can help relieve allergy symptoms. UV germicidal lamps installed in the ductwork expose passing air to ultraviolet light, which can reduce airborne contaminants including bacteria, mold, and other biological particles. High-efficiency air filters can capture significantly more airborne particles than standard filters — in some cases up to 95% to 99%. The combination of a UV lamp and a high-efficiency filter can meaningfully improve indoor air quality.

A high-efficiency air cleaner can remove up to 99% of the pollen and spores that find their way into the home, along with household dust, dirt, smoke, and other airborne particles — leaving the indoor air meaningfully cleaner and fresher. A whole-home humidifier addresses the discomfort of dry indoor air — reducing issues like dry skin, scratchy throats, and static electricity, while also protecting furnishings and woodwork. Since humid air feels warmer than dry air, proper humidity levels can also contribute to greater comfort without raising the thermostat.

Over time, air ducts can accumulate mold, mildew, pet hair, dander, dust, pollen, and other contaminants — all of which circulate through your home every time the system runs. Dirty ductwork can affect air quality, reduce system airflow, raise energy bills, and contribute to premature wear on your heating and cooling equipment. Whether duct cleaning is necessary depends on the specific conditions in your home — a professional evaluation is the best way to determine if it would make a meaningful difference.

Yes — carbon monoxide is a serious safety concern in any home with gas, oil, or other fuel-burning appliances. When combustion isn't complete, carbon monoxide enters the air — and because it's odorless and colorless, it's impossible to detect without a working CO detector. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission advises that carbon monoxide detectors are the only reliable way to alert you to its presence. If you or a family member experiences unexplained headaches or difficulty waking, treat it as a potential emergency and seek medical care immediately. Annual maintenance of combustion heating equipment is an important part of keeping your system operating safely.