HVAC Maintenance Service Call: What to Expect

Now that you’ve found an HVAC contractor to conduct contracted maintenance, it’s time to prepare for the technician’s visit.

Before The Technician Arrives

If possible, you should locate and write down the manufacturer name and model number of the equipment from your initial bill of sale so it is immediately available to the technician upon their arrival at your home. If this information is not available from your paperwork, a homeowner should not attempt to open any equipment in order to access this information.

During The Visit

Your HVAC technician may perform a complete system check. This can include looking over all parts of a system, cleaning it, and performing the routine maintenance specific to your system. Depending on the equipment being evaluated, a routine HVAC maintenance service call may include the following:  

• Inspecting main HVAC components
• Checking for adequate air flow
• Inspection of refrigerant lines
• Clearing drain lines and pans
• Inspecting exterior fan
• Tightening electrical connections
• Inspecting system controls
• Inspecting and lubricating moving parts
• Replacing parts that are showing wear and tear
• Replacing air filters
• Checking electrical connections

If the technician discovers that your ductwork is leaking, they may recommend duct sealing. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) estimates that a typical U.S. home loses 20%-30% of duct system air due to leaks, holes, and poorly connected ducts.”  A license professional technician can seal your ductwork. According to the DOE, sealing HVAC air ducts can drastically reduce duct leakage and improve both IAQ and overall system efficiency.

Follow Up

Making sure your HVAC equipment is routinely serviced by a professional HVAC technician is as important as taking your car to a mechanic for its required oil changes and maintenance. If an extended service contract or agreement is not already in place, technicians may often offer to set up a maintenance agreement wherein the customer agrees to pay a set fee for standardized scheduled system maintenance. Routine maintenance may extend the life of your HVAC equipment and possibly prevent minor issues from turning into expensive major problems over time.



By Jen (Anesi) Roby, former Legislative Editor at ACHR NEWS magazine and current Chief Editor for Plumbing & Mechanical. The Air Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration (ACHR) NEWS is the HVACR contractor’s weekly newsmagazine and is the industry’s most trusted and utilized direct communications link to the HVACR buyer.