HVAC systems are an integral part of everyone’s home. From humid hot summer days and nights to snow cold winter nights and days, we rely on our HVAC units. Pressing a button or dialing a knob and our homes are cooled or heated.

To ensure that your HVAC systems respond to your instructions and to prevent costly repairs, here are six maintenance tips for you.

1. Inspect and Change the Filter

One way to prevent incurring HVAC repair costs is to change your filters. The filters in your HVAC unit function as a screen; they eliminate particles from the air from being dispersed throughout your home. Over time, filters can become clogged with the dust and dirt they have removed from the air. Dirty filters can strain your HVAC system, which then leads to costly repairs.

Locate your HVAC system filters and change them as often as your HVAC technician recommends.

2. Clear Around the Outside Units

Another part of your HVAC system that can become clogged and dirty is your outside units. Leaves, grass clippings, and other debris can collect around your outside units. This can prevent them from operating efficiently and hinder its ability to perform.

Each time you do yard work, be sure to sweep away any debris from your outdoor unit.

3. Install and Use Smart Controls

Smart controls for your HVAC system can provide you with valuable information, which can prevent costly repairs. If you are not home, you can receive alerts about potential issues with your HVAC system. Then you can contact your HVAC technician to inspect your unit before the problem becomes more expensive.

Some smart controls also can remind you to change your filter.

4. Visually Inspect your Units

In addition to checking and cleaning around your outside HVAC units, you should routinely check your entire system. Doing this at the same time that you change your filters will ensure that the visual inspection is performed routinely.

You should be sure that your batteries or connections to your thermostat are working. Look at your registers and ductwork for any signs of mold or dampness. Be sure that your outside unit is still level; shore it up with shims as needed. Make sure that the doors to the unit close correctly. Check the drainage on your unit’s condensate system.

5. Clean Around Inside Units

Just as you cleared environmental debris from around the outside unit, the inside units need the same inspection. Inside your home, things can accumulate. Furniture shifts as you use it, which can cause it to block your registers and returns. Your system does not run efficiently if it does not have a good flow of air.

When HVAC systems operate inefficiently, they are overworked, which can lead to costly repairs.

6. Schedule Routine Professional Checks

Preventative maintenance performed by talented HVAC technicians is a significant step in avoiding costly repairs. During a routine check, your HVAC technician will clean and inspect all components of your HVAC system.

Call your HVAC technician to schedule your home’s system’s check-up.