Your Free HVAC Maintenance Checklist

South Texas summers are brutal. The average AC unit in our region works 2–3x more hours per year than units in cooler climates. Routine maintenance can extend your system's life by 5–7 years AND cut your monthly energy bill by 10–15%. This is what we check on every maintenance visit — and what you can do yourself between visits.

• ☐Check & replace air filter — every 30–90 days; sooner if you have pets, smokers, or heavy dust
• ☐Run AC for a few minutes if it's been idle — keeps components lubricated
• ☐Check thermostat — replace batteries if needed; consider upgrading to programmable

• ☐Clean condenser coils outside — remove leaves, grass clippings, debris within 2 feet of the unit
• ☐Trim vegetation around the outdoor unit — minimum 24-inch clearance on all sides
• ☐Check refrigerant lines for ice or damage — if iced over, turn off and call a professional
• ☐Clean indoor vents and registers — vacuum dust buildup

🌸 Spring (March–April) — Before the heat hits:

• ☐Schedule a professional AC tune-up (Western Air Next Gen offers these — call us)
• ☐Verify refrigerant levels (pro service)
• ☐Test capacitor and contactor (pro service)
• ☐Clean evaporator coil (pro service)
• ☐Replace UV bulb if you have an air-quality system

🍂 Fall (October) — Before first cold front:

• ☐Schedule a professional furnace/heating tune-up
• ☐Test heat strips (electric heat) or pilot/ignition (gas heat)
• ☐Clean blower assembly
• ☐Replace humidifier pad if you have one

• ☐Inspect ductwork for leaks — typical home loses 20–30% of conditioned air through leaks
• ☐Have a load calculation done if your system is 10+ years old
• ☐Review your energy bills — sudden increases often signal HVAC efficiency loss

• ☐It's 12+ years old (most systems last 15–20 with maintenance)
• ☐Repair cost exceeds 30% of replacement cost
• ☐Refrigerant is R-22 (banned, expensive when it leaks)
• ☐You've had 2+ major repairs in the last 24 months
• ☐Your bills have been steadily climbing