Francisco's Cooling & Heating IncFrancisco's Cooling & Heating IncWe recommend inspecting your HVAC air filter once a month and replacing or cleaning it at least every 1–3 months. Homes with pets, smokers or allergy sufferers may require more frequent changes to maintain good airflow and air quality.
Routine maintenance should be performed twice a year—once before the cooling season and once before the heating season. Regular tune‑ups help extend the life of your equipment, improve efficiency and prevent unexpected breakdowns.
Proper sizing depends on a variety of factors including the size of your home, insulation levels and lifestyle. A professional will perform a Manual J load calculation to determine the right system for your needs. Oversized or undersized equipment can lead to comfort issues and higher energy bills.
Replace filters regularly, keep your ducts clean and consider installing whole‑home air purifiers, humidifiers or dehumidifiers. Maintaining proper humidity and ventilation goes a long way toward creating a healthier indoor environment.
Most systems last 10–15 years. If your equipment is approaching that age, requires frequent repairs or struggles to keep your home comfortable, it may be more cost‑effective to replace it with a modern, energy‑efficient model.
While not always required, replacing both components at the same time ensures they are properly matched for optimum efficiency and reliability. Mismatched units can reduce performance, increase energy use and shorten equipment life.
In summer, set your thermostat around 78 °F (25.5 °C) when you're at home and 85 °F (29.5 °C) when you're away. In winter, aim for about 68 °F (20 °C) when you're home and lower it when you're sleeping or out. Programmable or smart thermostats make it easy to automate these settings.