In the Bay Area, your HVAC system doesn’t just sit on the sidelines until a heat wave or cold snap. Between cool mornings, warm afternoons, foggy nights, microclimates, and spring pollen, your furnace, heat pump, AC, or ductless system is doing quiet work almost year-round.

The problem?

Most homeowners only think about their system when:

• The heat won’t come on, or
• The AC is running but the house still feels stuffy

By then, you’re not doing “maintenance” — you’re doing damage control.

This guide from Galaxy Heating & Air Conditioning lays out a simple annual maintenance checklist for Bay Area homes, including:

• What you can safely do yourself (DIY)
• What’s better left to a professional
• When to schedule service for heating and cooling

📍 Serving Contra Costa, Alameda & San Francisco counties

📞 Want a pro tune-up? Call or text (925) 578-3293.

How Often Should You Service Your HVAC System?

For most Bay Area homes, a good rule of thumb is:

• Once a year minimum for a combined system
• Or twice a year:
  • Spring: cooling/heat pump check before hot weather
  • Fall: furnace/heat mode check before the first cold nights

If you have:

• Pets, lots of dust, or allergies
• Multiple systems (e.g., main house + ADU + ductless)
• Rental properties

…you may benefit from more frequent filter checks and regular professional maintenance.

DIY HVAC Maintenance Checklist (Things Most Homeowners Can Do)

These are low-risk tasks most people can handle with basic tools and a little care.

⚠️ Always turn off power at the thermostat (and, if needed, the breaker) before removing panels or touching equipment.

1. Check and Change Air Filters Regularly

Your filter is the first line of defense for:

• System efficiency
• Indoor air quality
• Preventing overheating and freezing issues

How often to check:

• Every month
• Change every 1–3 months for standard 1″ filters
• Thicker media filters (4–5″) can last longer but still need regular checks

What to do:

• Locate your filter(s) — at the return grille or in/near the furnace/air handler.
• Make sure replacements are the correct size and type.
• Don’t overdo the MERV rating if your system isn’t designed for it (Galaxy can advise on this).

Dirty filters = higher bills, more breakdowns, and hot/cold spots.

2. Keep Vents & Returns Open and Clear

Blocked vents and returns can wreak havoc on airflow.

Walk the house and check:

• Supply vents (where air comes out):
  • Are they fully open?
  • Are they blocked by furniture, rugs, drapes, or kids’ stuff?
• Return grilles (where air goes back to the system):
  • Are they unobstructed?
  • Is dust buildup obvious on the grille? (You can safely vacuum the grille itself.)

Don’t shut off a bunch of vents to “force air” to other rooms — that can raise system pressure and cause problems elsewhere.

3. Clear the Area Around Your Furnace & Indoor Unit

Especially important for gas furnaces:

• Keep at least 2–3 feet of clear space around the unit.
• Don’t store:
  • Cardboard boxes
  • Paint cans or chemicals
  • Cleaning supplies
  • Anything flammable
• Make sure the access panels are easily reachable.

This isn’t just about service access — it’s about safety, too.

4. Clear and Rinse Around the Outdoor Unit (AC or Heat Pump)

Your condenser or heat pump outside needs airflow.

What you can do:

• Remove leaves, weeds, and debris from around the unit.
• Maintain 12–24 inches of clearance on all sides.
• Gently rinse the exterior coil with a garden hose from the top down and inside out (power off first).
• Never use a pressure washer or bend the fins.

If the coil is heavily matted with dirt or lint, that’s a professional cleaning job.

5. Check Thermostat Basics

A few simple checks:

• Is the thermostat level and firmly mounted?
• Are the temperature readings reasonable compared to a small room thermometer?
• Do you have appropriate schedules set for when you’re home/away/asleep?
• If it uses batteries, change them at least once a year.

If you’re still on an old-school manual thermostat, this is also a good time to consider a modern programmable or smart thermostat (we can help pick one that plays nice with your equipment).

6. Listen, Look & Smell for Anything “Off”

As you run your system:

• Listen for:
  • New rattles, squealing, grinding, or banging
  • Loud whooshing or whistling at vents
• Look for:
  • Water around your indoor unit (possible condensate issue)
  • Loose or hanging duct connections you can see
  • Unusual frost/ice around refrigerant lines
• Smell for:
  • Strong burning, melting plastic, or electrical odors
  • Persistent musty or moldy smells from vents

If something feels off, don’t ignore it. Small noises and smells usually get worse, not better.

Professional HVAC Maintenance Checklist
(What a Pro Should Do Each Year)

These are tasks that involve live electricity, refrigerant, combustion, and specialized tools — they’re not DIY.

During a professional maintenance visit, Galaxy typically covers items like:

1. Full System Safety & Operational Check

For furnaces, this can include:

• Checking burners and flame pattern
• Inspecting heat exchanger area for signs of cracking or heavy corrosion
• Testing safety switches and high-limit controls
• Verifying proper venting and draft

For heat pumps and ACs:

• Verifying proper start-up and shut-down
• Checking for abnormal pressure or temperature readings
• Ensuring defrost cycles (for heat pumps) operate correctly

2. Electrical & Controls Inspection

We’ll safely inspect:

• Wiring connections for looseness or overheating
• Condition of contactors, relays, and boards
• Capacitors (start/run components for motors)
• Proper operation of indoor and outdoor fan motors

Loose or overheated electrical parts are a common cause of mid-season failures and sometimes smoke or fire risk.

3. Blower & Airflow Checks

For the indoor unit:

• Inspect and, if accessible, clean the blower wheel
• Check blower motor amperage against specs
• Confirm proper fan speed settings
• Look for duct issues that may require further work (leaks, undersizing, restrictions)

Good airflow is the foundation of comfort and efficiency — and a big factor in system lifespan.

4. Coil & Drain Maintenance

Your system’s ability to move heat and moisture depends on clean coils and proper drainage.

A pro will:

• Inspect the indoor evaporator coil
• Clean it if accessible and needed (this is delicate, not DIY)
• Check and clear the condensate drain line and trap
• Verify the outdoor coil is clean, and clean it thoroughly if needed

A clogged drain can cause:

• Water leaks
• Ceiling damage in some installs
• Nasty mold/mildew growth around the unit

5. Refrigerant-Level & Performance Check (AC & Heat Pumps)

Using gauges and temperature readings, a tech will:

• Check if refrigerant charge is within proper range
• Look for signs of undercharge or overcharge
• Note any indicators of leaks or system stress

If refrigerant is low, a responsible contractor will:

• Discuss leak detection and repair, not just “top-offs”
• Explain whether the system is still a good candidate for long-term repair vs replacement

6. Combustion & Venting Safety (Gas Furnaces)

For gas furnaces, combustion safety is non-negotiable:

• Inspect burners, flame, and ignition system
• Check flue/vent piping for rust, disconnections, or blockage
• Confirm clearances from combustibles
• Look for early signs of heat exchanger issues

We always recommend carbon monoxide (CO) detectors on each level of a home with gas appliances.

7. System Clean-Up, Adjustments & Recommendations

At the end of a maintenance visit, you should expect:

• Minor adjustments and clean-up (tension, settings, small fixes)
• An explanation of any issues found
• Clear recommendations:
  • “You’re in good shape — just keep up filters and annual visits,” or
  • “This part is marginal — here’s what to expect,” or
  • “We strongly recommend a repair/upgrade before next season”

No scare tactics, just real information so you can plan.

Suggested Annual HVAC Timeline for Bay Area Homes

Here’s a simple schedule you can use:

Late Winter / Early Spring (Feb–April)

DIY:

• Replace filters
• Clear outdoor unit
• Check thermostat schedules

Pro:

• Spring tune-up focused on AC / heat pump cooling mode
• Address any issues from winter before cooling load arrives

Late Summer / Early Fall (Aug–Oct)

DIY:

• Replace filters
• Make sure vents and returns are clear
• Test your heat on a mild day (don’t wait for the first cold night)

Pro:

• Fall tune-up focused on furnace / heat pump heating mode
• Safety check before consistent night-time heating

Year-Round

• Check filters monthly
• Keep an eye/ear/nose out for changes
• Don’t ignore new noises, smells, or performance drops

Catching issues early = fewer emergency calls, fewer “no heat/no cool” days.

FAQ – Annual HVAC Maintenance for Bay Area Homes

Q: Do I really need maintenance every year if my system seems fine?

A: You can skip it — but you’ll generally see more breakdowns, lower efficiency, and shorter equipment life. Annual maintenance is like oil changes for your car: you don’t always notice the benefits day one, but you notice the problems if you never do it.

Q: Can’t I just wait until something breaks and fix it then?

A: You could, but breakdowns like to happen:

• On the first hot day when everyone else is calling
• On a cold weekend night

Proactive maintenance is almost always cheaper and less stressful than emergency repairs.

Q: Is a maintenance plan worth it?

A: For many homeowners, yes — especially if you:

• Have multiple systems
• Want reminders and priority scheduling
• Like spreading the cost out instead of random big bills

Galaxy can go over what’s included and whether it fits your situation.

Q: I have a heat pump. Do I still need furnace maintenance?

A: If you have an all-electric heat pump with no gas furnace, we focus on heat pump and air handler checks twice a year. If you have dual fuel (heat pump + gas furnace), both sides of the system need regular attention.

Q: Can I damage something by cleaning it myself?

A: It’s possible if you:

• Open panels without cutting power
• Spray coils with high-pressure water
• Use harsh chemicals or bend coil fins

Stick to the DIY list above, and let a pro handle deeper cleaning and internal components.

Want a Simple, Stress-Free Maintenance Plan for Your Bay Area Home?

You don’t have to memorize every line of this checklist — that’s our job.

If you’re in Contra Costa, Alameda, or San Francisco counties, Galaxy Heating & Air Conditioning can:

• Perform seasonal tune-ups for your furnace, AC, heat pump, or ductless system
• Set you up on a maintenance plan so you don’t have to remember dates
• Catch small issues before they become big, expensive problems
• Keep your system safe, efficient, and comfortable year-round

📞 Call or text (925) 578-3293

💬 Or contact us through our website to schedule a maintenance visit

We’ll take care of the technical stuff — so you can just enjoy a Bay Area home that’s comfortable, safe, and ready for whatever the weather does next.