New Homeowner’s HVAC Checklist

When purchasing a new home, it’s smart to focus on more than the flooring, kitchen, and windows. You also need to focus on your home comfort systems. The HVAC might be in bad shape. Welcome to the adventure of maintaining a new home. When you think you’ve purchased something new and shiny, you find the HVAC is underwhelming. You may need repairs or HVAC maintenance to experience benefits like lower monthly bills and true home comfort. If you’re a new homeowner in Los Angeles, CA, we at Monkey Wrench Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electric want to offer you this new homeowner’s checklist for your HVAC.

Understanding Your HVAC System Basics

The first step here is to learn a bit about your HVAC system and its basic functionality. HVAC stands for Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning. For heat, classic systems typically use a furnace. More modern homes might use heat pumps, which provide both heating and cooling. Central air conditioners are for cooling only and do not include heat. You may also have ductless mini-split systems that have independent registers built into the walls. You need to understand the hardware involved before you can properly maintain your new home.

Locate the physical HVAC units and identify the manufacturer and approximate age of the equipment. This is important data to have when you schedule service or need parts. Take note of this information and keep it safe and handy. It will also save us some time when we show up to inspect or repair the unit.

Check and Change Air Filters Regularly

A simple and effective DIY task you can accomplish is changing your air filters regularly. So many issues with your home comfort system stem from dirty and clogged filters. Your HVAC needs to take in a lot of air to condition it before blowing it back out. When debris obstructs airflow, your HVAC has to work much harder. This puts stress on the system and ultimately causes issues. Small issues then snowball into major breakdowns. You can prevent much of this by simply changing the filters regularly.

We suggest checking your filters at least once a month, especially during the high-use summer and winter seasons. You should also change or clean your filters every one to three months of regular use. Choosing the right filter type, such as a pleated MERV-rated filter, is crucial. This ensures that your system receives proper protection without restricting airflow. Regular filter swaps are a foundational part of any successful HVAC maintenance routine. Remember the information you jotted down and kept? This is what you use to find the right size and types of air filters.

Inspect and Clean Vents, Registers, and Return Grilles

Your home comfort units need airflow to function properly. Anything that restricts the air is bad for operation. Your vents, registers, and return grilles need to be clean and free of dirt and debris. This is another DIY task you can do at home. Dirty registers affect your indoor air quality and your body temperature. For temperature, the blocked vents make it harder to reach the thermostat setting. This leaves your HVAC system overworked. At a minimum, this can cause monthly spikes in energy bills. And it’s likely going to cause a breakdown. For your air quality, the vents blow all the dirt and debris all over the home. The returns suck it up, clogging up your system’s filters. It’s a problem that will only worsen.

Vacuuming your vents can work well. Most vacuums have a narrow attachment called a crevice tool. You can use this to clean the grates naturally and with minimal effort. It’s a good idea to go through the home once a month to check the vents.

Test Thermostat Function and Settings

The thermostat acts as the brain of your heating and cooling system. This device needs to respond to your commands, so it’s important to keep it correctly calibrated. The thermostat has different modes, including Heat, Cool, and Auto. Make sure it’s correctly set.

Smart thermostats are becoming increasingly popular. If you don’t have one, you may want to consider installing one. It will allow you to create schedules for routines, and you can even operate it from an app on your smartphone. You can also tie it into your Google and Amazon assistants.

Schedule Seasonal Professional HVAC Inspections

Calling in the pros for an inspection will ensure you’re getting the most from your HVAC system. Filter changes and vent cleaning are great, but they don’t help with existing mechanical issues. By opting for an inspection and tune-up, you’re getting actual service. Our technicians check burners, coils, refrigerant levels, connections, and other vital aspects of your machine. If we find a small issue, we fix it before it causes a breakdown. The tune-up process allows for smoother HVAC system operation.

We recommend a tune-up twice per year: once in the fall before winter weather hits, and once in the spring before the summer heat. This schedule allows your HVAC to enter its busy seasons operating at peak efficiency.

Inspect Outdoor Units and Surrounding Areas

Your outdoor condenser releases heat from the home. It requires a clear area to function properly. As a new homeowner, check to ensure you have at least 2 feet of clearance on all sides. Cut back bushes, tall grass, tree limbs, and other foliage. Keep the unit itself clean and unobstructed.

Even if there’s nothing to clear, it’s still wise to visually inspect the condenser. Check for bent fins, dents, loose screws and panels, and signs of damage. Is the unit tilted? Is water pooling around the base? These are all things you can easily spot. If there’s any damage, give us a call to have a look.

Know Common HVAC Warning Signs

Focusing on your HVAC in your new home can save you a lot of money. Catching small issues before they grow to cause major breakdowns is crucial. HVAC equipment rarely breaks down without first showing warning signs. Pay attention to how your system sounds and performs. You will usually be able to tell when something’s wrong.

• Unusual clanking or grinding noises
• Rust or corrosion on the unit
• Uneven temperatures between rooms
• Spikes in monthly energy costs
• Frequent system cycling on and off
• Weak airflow
• Strange or foul odors

Request HVAC Maintenance

Following this new homeowner’s checklist will help you keep your heating and cooling equipment in peak condition. Changing air filters, cleaning registers, and clearing debris are all important tasks. Testing your thermostat is vital. These things really help your HVAC system and improve your indoor air quality. It would be smart to build these tasks into a monthly routine. However, you also need professional HVAC maintenance to keep your system in peak operating condition.

Monkey Wrench Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electric is here to support you with all your HVAC needs. We have over 25 years of experience in the area and have built a strong reputation for quality and customer care. We are a family-owned and -operated business with the expertise needed to ensure proper HVAC function. You can also take advantage of our Home Protection Plan for membership benefits.

Contact Monkey Wrench Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electric in Los Angeles to book quality HVAC maintenance and other services.