HVAC maintenance for homes in San Rafael, Novato, San Anselmo, Larkspur and Sausalito comes down to a few things done on schedule: clean coils, a fresh filter, tested electrical parts, a checked refrigerant charge and, on gas equipment, a safety and combustion check. Many breakdowns trace back to something a tune-up would have caught, such as a weak capacitor, a sooty flame sensor or a clogged drain, so the value of the visit lies mostly in failures that never happen.
What a tune-up covers
Every visit
- Inspect the entire system, from the thermostat to the outdoor unit.
- Replace the air filter, or show you the right size and rating to buy.
- Test electrical connections, capacitors, contactors and motor amp draw.
- Lubricate moving parts where the equipment has oil ports, and check belts on older blowers.
- Calibrate the thermostat and check its settings for the season.
- Clear and test the condensate drain and the float switch.
- Leave a written system report with anything that needs attention.
Cooling side
- Clean the condenser coil outdoors and check the evaporator coil indoors.
- Check refrigerant levels using temperatures and pressures, without adding refrigerant unless there is a reason.
- Measure the temperature drop across the indoor coil and the airflow.
Heating side
- Inspect the burners, igniter and flame sensor, and clean what needs it.
- Check the heat exchanger and test for carbon monoxide.
- Confirm the vent draws properly and the safety switches work.
- On heat pumps, test the defrost controls and the backup heat.
When to schedule in Marin
Heating in early fall. Marin’s damp season runs from fall into spring, and heating carries the most hours of the year. Book the heating check before the first cold week, when everyone else calls at once.
Cooling in late spring. Air conditioners in Novato, San Anselmo and the north side of San Rafael may sit unused for months and then run hard on the first hot afternoon. A spring check finds the weak parts first.
Heat pumps twice. They work in both seasons, so they get both visits.
Near the water. Outdoor units in Sausalito and along the bay side of San Rafael and Larkspur collect salt on the coil. Between visits, a gentle rinse with a garden hose (never a pressure washer) every few months slows corrosion.
Maintenance plans
A maintenance plan puts your tune-ups on a regular schedule and adds two things that matter most when something does break:
- Priority scheduling, so plan members are seen first when the phones are busiest.
- Discounts on repairs.
Every tune-up also leaves a written report, which builds a record of the system’s care. That record helps with warranty claims and when you sell the house. Ask about plan details when you call.
Between visits: what you can do
- Change or wash filters on schedule - more often during smoke days or with pets.
- Keep two feet of clear space around the outdoor unit; trim plants and rake out leaves.
- Pour a cup of water into the condensate drain access before summer to check it flows.
- Keep supply registers open and the return grille clear.
- Test carbon monoxide alarms when you change the clocks.
Signs a system needs attention now
Do not wait for the scheduled visit if the system short-cycles, makes a new grinding or squealing noise, runs constantly without reaching the setting, or the bills jump without a change in use. Those point to a repair: see AC repair, heating repair or high energy bills. Our maintenance guide for homeowners goes further, and town pages cover HVAC maintenance in San Rafael and in Novato.