HVAC care: what you can check and when to call
A few checks can help you describe an HVAC problem. Keep home maintenance within the instructions for your equipment, and leave electrical, gas, and refrigerant work to a qualified technician.
Checks that do not require opening equipment
- Read the thermostat display, mode, schedule, and any error message.
- Check the accessible filter and follow the equipment manual for the correct size, type, and replacement schedule.
- Move furniture away from supply registers and return grilles.
- From the ground, look for leaves or plants blocking the outdoor unit. Follow the maker’s clearance instructions; do not reach into the unit.
Do not climb onto a roof, remove service panels, work on wiring, or handle refrigerant. Stop if a task requires tools or access you cannot use safely.
Arrange service when performance changes
Tell the office about warm air in cooling mode, weak airflow, repeated starts and stops, unusual sounds, visible water, or a system that will not run. Those symptoms can have several causes. A description alone does not establish which part needs repair.
If you smell gas, leave the area and call 911 from a safe place outside. Do not operate switches or try to find the leak. See PG&E’s gas-safety instructions.
Keep a useful maintenance record
Write down filter changes, past repairs, the model number if safely accessible, and when the problem happens. These details help a technician understand the history. ENERGY STAR’s maintenance checklist separates owner filter care from a contractor’s seasonal checks.
A repair diagnosis has a visit charge. Read what a repair visit costs for the first-hour charge, additional time, parts, after-hours rates, and travel charges. The technician explains repair options and costs before you approve repair work.
