Start with the filter and thermostat, then schedule a pre-season check. Leave electrical, refrigerant and internal equipment work to an HVAC professional.
Plan before you need cooling every day
Put cooling maintenance on your spring calendar. ENERGY STAR recommends a pre-season professional check rather than waiting until the busiest part of summer.
Check the filter and its instructions
Inspect your filter regularly, particularly when the system runs heavily. If it is dirty, replace or clean it as directed by the equipment and filter manufacturer. Use the specified size and type; washable and disposable filters need different care.
Review thermostat settings
Check that the thermostat schedule matches when people are home. Before your service visit, write down any times or rooms where comfort has been a problem. This gives the technician something more specific to investigate than “it seems warm.”
What a maintenance visit should cover
Ask what is included in the visit. A technician can evaluate electrical connections, controls, condensate drainage, coils, airflow and refrigerant. These are service tasks, not instructions to open equipment or add refrigerant yourself.
Prepare a useful service note
- System model and approximate age, if available.
- Last filter change and last professional service.
- Rooms that feel different from the rest of the home.
- Unusual sounds, water, odors or repeated stopping and starting.
- Any recent change in comfort or energy use.
Make the next check easier
Ask the technician which filter your system needs, what you can safely check yourself, and what changes should prompt a call. Record recommendations instead of relying on a generic maintenance interval.
Schedule reminders that fit your equipment instructions. If cooling already seems unreliable, request repair help rather than assuming routine maintenance alone will solve it.
Sources & editorial note
Prepared by LocalTradeConnect with AI assistance using the linked resources, checked October 3, 2026. General homeowner information; this guide has not been reviewed by a local contractor and does not diagnose your property.