The Homeowner's HVAC Cheat Sheet

If you’re a new homeowner, there’s a good chance you know absolutely nothing about your HVAC system.

Totally normal. Most people don’t think about it until it stops working. Then they think about nothing else.

If you’re tired of calling techs to fix what feels like a forever problem, start here.

Save this somewhere. You’ll probably most likely definitely need it.

A warning before we begin: this checklist contains a completely unnecessary number of HVAC puns.

We apologize for all of them.

But not enough to remove them. Obviously.

Your HVAC Checklist

1. Change your air filter.

Starting off with an easy one.

Check it regularly and replace it when it’s dirty.

A clogged filter restricts airflow and makes your system work harder than it needs to.

If you can’t remember the last time you changed it, change it.

That’s our unfiltered advice.

2. Clear your outdoor unit.

Leaves, grass, and weeds can build up around the outdoor unit and restrict airflow.

Give it some space and keep the area around it clear.

A fairly cut-and-dry solution.

Do this and consider the problem lawn gone.

Sorry.

3. Don't ignore the noises.

Grinding. Banging. Rattling. Screeching.

If it starts making a noise it wasn’t making before, pay attention.

You don’t need to know what it means. That’s our job.

You just need to admit that you heard it.

Sound advice, if you ask us.

(Hope these are bring you as much joy as they are us).

4. Pay attention to uneven temps.

One room hotter than the rest of the house? NOT COOL!

Could be an issue with airflow, ductwork, insulation or the system itself.

We won’t know until we check it, but it IS worth having it checked.

Please!

5. Leave. The thermostat. ALONE!

We say this lovingly.

Changing it from 78° to 65° won't make the house cool faster.

It is not a race.

Set it to a temperature you’re comfortable with and leave it alone.

Cool it, basically.

6. Keep an eye on your energy bill.

Your electricity bill will go up when you use the AC more.

It’s summer.

It's Texas.

It’s summer in Texas.

Y’all know.

But if your usage hasn't changed and your bill jumps, something’s up!

If your HVAC’s working real hard to do the one thing it exists to do, there’s a reason.

7. Keep up with maintenance.

It’s better to air out the issues early.

Yes, we’re still doing this.

Regular maintenance.

It’s maintenance you need to do regularly.

And it helps us catch baby issues before they blow up.

Another one.

Nobody enjoys scheduling maintenance.

But we enjoy emergency repair bills much less.

8. Know when to call a pro.

There are a few things you can check yourself:

• Thermostat settings

• Air filter

• Circuit breaker

• Open vents

• Anything obviously blocking the outdoor unit

If you've checked those and something still ain’t right, that's prob your cue to stop.

Please don’t take the thing apart.

And for the love of God, please don’t Google it.

Know your limits.

It's one of the more underrated homeowner skills.

Keep This List Handy

• Change the filter.

• Keep the outdoor unit clear.

• Pay attention to new noises.

• Watch for uneven temperatures.

• Don't constantly adjust the thermostat.

• Notice unusual changes in your energy bill.

• Keep up with maintenance.

• Call a professional when something isn't right.

A little attention throughout the year can save you a LOT of hassle later.

Annoying, but true.

And if you’ve just moved into a new home and have absolutely no idea when the HVAC system was last serviced...

Neither did the previous owner.

Probably.

So we’ll just leave this here for ya.

(817) 330-4156.