When your central heating and cooling system is in its best condition, it provides a great mix of efficiency and comfort. On the other hand, if it is left without proper maintenance, that efficiency crashes and so does your wallet.

Most maintenance for central heating and cooling systems should be left to the professionals, but some general upkeep can be performed by homeowners of any skill level. Here’s a list of suggested maintenance for central heating and cooling systems to ensure you keep the cost of comfort at its lowest.

CENTRAL COOLING

Air Filters

Air filters on central heating and cooling systems block dust, pollen, and other small particles from entering your home. Eventually, these air filters become clogged by these particles, causing a reduction in energy efficiency from 5 to 15 percent. Ignoring air filter maintenance is like throwing away the money you spent on a better unit. The U.S. Department of Energy recommends that filters be replaced every one to two months during the season. Some central air conditioner filters are reusable while others are disposable. Before you replace your air filter, check to see which kind you have.

Clogged drains:

Central air conditioners feature drains used to remove condensation and humidity. These can become clogged over time. Unclogging the drains is simple. Just push a wire through the drain channels to knock out the gunk.

Expert Level Central Cooling Maintenance

Other maintenance should only be done by professionals or homeowners with advanced knowledge. These include:

Cleaning coils:

The evaporator and condenser coils collect dirt overtime, limiting air flow and the amount of heat removed by the air conditioner. These should be cleaned, at most, every year.

Coil fins:

Fins on the evaporator and condenser bend over time, which blocks air flow. When this occurs, the fins should be straightened.

Blower adjustment:

The blower may wear down over time and need an adjustment to boost air flow.

Adjust refrigerant:

If your air conditioner has too much or too little refrigerant, an essential chemical component that creates cool air, your system will operate inefficiently.

CENTRAL HEATING

Air Filters:

A furnace relies on a filter to block out dust, mold, and other particles, which collects dirt over time, leading to falling energy efficiency. Your filter should be changed regularly, as much as once a month during seasons when it’s in constant use. A filter change takes just a few minutes.

Pilot Light:

If you have natural gas, check whether the pilot light is on and that it’s blue. If you’re trying to heat your home but getting nothing except cold air blowing in, a pilot light that’s gone out is the likely problem. If the pilot light is yellow or orange, there may be a mechanical issue with the system.

Expert Level Central Heating Maintenance

Other maintenance should only be done by professionals or homeowners with advanced knowledge. These include:

Belt adjustment and lubrication:

Belts inside your central heating dry out and become worn over time, this reduces efficiency. These should be adjusted and lubricated, at the most, annually.

Indoor air quality is becoming an increasing health concern, which is why quality air purifiers have never been more important for good health.  Those tight seals that allow your home to feel comfortable and energy-efficient also make the indoor air in your home polluted. Pollutant levels of airborne particles, gases, chemicals, and volatile organic compounds are higher in the home than they are outside. Did you know that the air inside your home is five to ten times dirtier than the air outside, given that Americans spend about ninety percent of the time indoors?

The most common indoor air pollutant is air mold. It exists wherever moisture and oxygen are present. Inside your home, molds can  likely be found in damp basements, closets, bathrooms, air conditioning  systems, humidifiers, or any humid place. Poor indoor air quality affects people in different  degrees. It all depends on an individual’s age and relative health, but there are different ways of protecting yourself and your loved ones against indoor  air pollutants. Some ways to improve indoor air quality include:

. Attempt to control the source of the pollutant. If the pollutant is coming from indoor air mold, smoke, or some type of chemical, you can remove it by having a thorough cleansing of your home. Keeping  in mind that some indoor air pollutants such as dust or pollen are not so easily eliminated.

. Improve the ventilation in your home.  You can accomplish this by allowing fresh air into your home through windows.  However, opening a window on a high pollen-count day or in a smoggy city will  probably worsen the air situation in your home.

. Purchase an air purifier. There are numerous types of air purifiers on the market so be sure to buy one that is  well suited for the dimension of your home.

Air purifiers are designed to clean and purify the  air people breathe, by reducing odors and airborne pollutants that contribute to poor air quality, and filter common allergens such as pollen, mold and dust. Tips on choosing an air purifier include:

.  Area Coverage: Make sure the square footage recommended for the air purifier is close to or slightly greater than  the square footage of the room where you intend to use it.

. Air Changes Per Hour (ACH) – This number  informs us how frequently the air purifiercan exchange all the air in a given  room in an hour.

. Filter Replacements – Filters have to be  replaced on many types of air purifiers. Be sure to find out the cost of the filters and how often they must be changed.

. Noise Level – Some air purifiers are very quiet, while others can be quite loud. Make sure to have a trial demonstration of the unit before purchasing it.

. Energy Usage – Because air purifiers operate on energy and run continuously, the amount of energy they consume will  be reflected on your energy bill.

Indoor air quality is becoming an increasing health concern, which is why quality air purifiers have never been more important for good health.  Those tight seals that allow your home to feel comfortable and energy-efficient also make the indoor air in your home polluted. Pollutant levels of airborne particles, gases, chemicals, and volatile organic compounds are higher in the home than they are outside. Did you know that the air inside your home is five to ten times dirtier than the air outside, given that Americans spend about ninety percent of the time indoors?

The most common indoor air pollutant is air mold. It exists wherever moisture and oxygen are present. Inside your home, molds can  likely be found in damp basements, closets, bathrooms, air conditioning  systems, humidifiers, or any humid place. Poor indoor air quality affects people in different  degrees. It all depends on an individual’s age and relative health, but there are different ways of protecting yourself and your loved ones against indoor  air pollutants. Some ways to improve indoor air quality include:

. Attempt to control the source of the pollutant. If the pollutant is coming from indoor air mold, smoke, or some type of chemical, you can remove it by having a thorough cleansing of your home. Keeping  in mind that some indoor air pollutants such as dust or pollen are not so easily eliminated.

. Improve the ventilation in your home.  You can accomplish this by allowing fresh air into your home through windows.  However, opening a window on a high pollen-count day or in a smoggy city will  probably worsen the air situation in your home.

. Purchase an air purifier. There are numerous types of air purifiers on the market so be sure to buy one that is  well suited for the dimension of your home.

Air purifiers are designed to clean and purify the  air people breathe, by reducing odors and airborne pollutants that contribute to poor air quality, and filter common allergens such as pollen, mold and dust. Tips on choosing an air purifier include:

.  Area Coverage: Make sure the square footage recommended for the air purifier is close to or slightly greater than  the square footage of the room where you intend to use it.

. Air Changes Per Hour (ACH) – This number  informs us how frequently the air purifiercan exchange all the air in a given  room in an hour.

. Filter Replacements – Filters have to be  replaced on many types of air purifiers. Be sure to find out the cost of the filters and how often they must be changed.

. Noise Level – Some air purifiers are very quiet, while others can be quite loud. Make sure to have a trial demonstration of the unit before purchasing it.

. Energy Usage – Because air purifiers operate on energy and run continuously, the amount of energy they consume will  be reflected on your energy bill.

The National Oil heat Research Alliance recommends that storage tanks be replaced after 30 years of service no matter how good they look on the outside.  Tanks corrode from the inside as well by “pitting” in the steel.  Starting in September 2005, CK Climate Control llc. started replacing tanks exclusively with Roth double wall - oil storage tanks which are constructed with a double liner and include a leak detection system!  These tanks have a superior finish and boast warranties of  30 years!  If your heating oil tank has been in service for more than 30 years, it is a must to replace it before it leaks and causes an expensive cleanup. 

There are plenty of online companies that provide either one or the other type of oil or natural gas service plan. But do you really know that many of these programs do not turn out to be the best service program for the natural gas. There’s usually too much of advertising and web advertorials and infomercials on the best natural gas service plan, but hardly any program turns out to be the best. Therefore, in such a situation it becomes very necessary that you  search for the best oil or natural gas service plan.

Here are few important things to make note of when searching for the best oil or natural gas service plan:

Does the Plan cover Emergency No-Heat Calls? – The heating gas premium coverage is exclusively designed to meet the requirements of a gas heating system fitted in the home. The efficiency and safe operation of a oil and gas heating system should be  checked annually. Faults can occur anytime in the heating gas, and which can become very problematic.

Is the Annul Tune-Up Included? – The best Natural Gas service plans should include the annual tune-up and safety check. You need to check out the details of plans to know if the annul tune-up of the gas system is included in the plan. For the correct, safe operation of natural gas systems, it is very necessary that you have yearly tuning service included under the best natural gas and service plan.

Does the Service Price include coverage of Labor & Parts for Repairs? – Ideally put, the best Natural Gas service plan will include coverage for service repairs (parts and labor!) 

No Extra Charges in Case of Emergency – In case of emergency in the home, the best Natural Gas service plans will not charge extra to make emergency repairs on weekends, holidays or evenings.

There are plenty of online companies that provide either one or the other type of natural gas service plan. But do you really know that many of these programs do not turn out to be the best service program for the natural gas. There’s usually too much of advertising and web advertorials and infomercials on the best natural gas service plan, but hardly any program turns out to be the best. Therefore, in such a situation it becomes very necessary that you  search for the best natural gas service plan.

Here are few important things to make note of when searching for the best natural gas service plan:

Does the Plan cover Emergency No-Heat Calls? – The heating gas premium coverage is exclusively designed to meet the requirements of a gas heating system fitted in the home. The efficiency and safe operation of a gas heating system should be  checked annually. Faults can occur anytime in the heating gas, and which can become very problematic.

Is the Annul Tune-Up Included? – The best Natural Gas service plans should include the annual tune-up and safety check. You need to check out the details of plans to know if the annul tune-up of the gas system is included in the plan. For the correct, safe operation of natural gas systems, it is very necessary that you have yearly tuning service included under the best natural gas and service plan.

Does the Service Price include coverage of Labor & Parts for Repairs? – Ideally put, the best Natural Gas service plan will include coverage for service repairs (parts and labor!) 

No Extra Charges in Case of Emergency – In case of emergency in the home, the best Natural Gas service plans will not charge extra to make emergency repairs on weekends, holidays or evenings.