HVAC Maintenance Checklist for Kentucky Homes

Every month

• Check the filter. Replace it when it looks dirty or on the schedule printed on the package: usually every 1 to 3 months for 1-inch filters and every 6 to 12 months for 4- or 5-inch media filters. Pets, allergies and construction dust mean more frequent changes.
• Keep supply vents open and return grilles clear of furniture and rugs.
• Listen and look. New noises, smells, water near the indoor unit or ice on the refrigerant lines are worth a call before they turn into a breakdown.

Spring, before cooling season

• Clear leaves, grass clippings and debris from around the outdoor unit, and keep plants trimmed about two feet back.
• With the power off at the breaker, gently hose dirt and cottonwood fluff off the outside of the coil. Never use a pressure washer, and don't bend the fins.
• When the AC runs, check that the condensate drain is flowing where it ends, outside or at a floor drain.
• Test the AC on the first warm day, not the first hot one, so there's time to fix a problem before you need it.
• Schedule the cooling tune-up.

Fall, before heating season

• Replace the filter before the first cold night.
• Test the heat on a cool day. A light dusty smell for the first few minutes is normal the first time.
• Test your carbon monoxide alarms and replace the batteries. With gas appliances or an attached garage, you should have a CO alarm on every level and outside sleeping areas.
• Clear stored items away from the furnace. It needs air for combustion and space for safety.
• For heat pumps, keep the outdoor unit clear of leaves and make sure it sits above where snow and ice collect.
• Schedule the heating tune-up.

What a cooling tune-up covers

A real tune-up is more than a rinse and a filter change. Our cooling tune-up checks:

• Refrigerant pressures, superheat and subcooling
• The capacitor and contactor
• Compressor and fan motor amp draw
• The outdoor coil
• The condensate drain
• The blower and electrical connections
• The thermostat and the filter

What a heating tune-up covers

Our heating tune-up checks:

• The full ignition sequence
• The flame sensor and burners
• Gas pressure
• A visual check of the heat exchanger
• The inducer and safety switches
• Venting, with a carbon monoxide check
• The blower, thermostat and filter
• On heat pumps: the defrost control, reversing valve and aux heat

What maintenance can and can't do

Maintenance catches the problems that give warning signs: a weak capacitor, a dirty flame sensor, a clogged drain, a slow refrigerant leak. It helps the system run efficiently, and manufacturers can deny warranty claims for failures caused by a lack of maintenance. What it can't do is guarantee that a part will never fail. Anyone who promises that is overselling.

If your system is already failing, request a repair instead of waiting for a tune-up. A tune-up isn't a substitute for a diagnosis.

Tune-up pricing

Our A/C tune-up special is $79 in cooling season (April through September). If you want both tune-ups every year, the Comfort Club is $180 a year and includes two tune-ups, 20% off repairs and priority scheduling. The full checklists are on our tune-up and maintenance page.

Common questions