Seasonal maintenance is the quiet habit that keeps an HVAC system from becoming a seasonal headache. In central Virginia, where summer humidity lingers and winter cold can nip harder than the forecast suggested, a little planning goes a long way. Over years of tuning heat pumps that short cycle in July and coaxing overlooked furnaces back to life in January, we have learned that timing, attention to detail, and a few smart upgrades make the difference between a system that coasts and one that limps.
This guide shares what actually matters as you move through the year. It blends field lessons with practical steps you can do yourself, along with the moments where calling a pro saves money and stress. Whether your search started with HVAC Repair near me or you already have a trusted HVAC company, you will find a seasonal rhythm that fits Richmond homes and weather.
How the seasons stress your system
Heat and humidity are a brutal combo. In July and August, we see coils iced over from airflow issues and blower wheels caked with dust. The AC works hardest removing moisture first, then lowering air temperature. That load multiplies when filters clog or outdoor units can’t breathe. On the heating side, the first cold snap exposes weak igniters, sticky gas valves, and limit switches that trip fosterpandh.com because the system cannot vent heat fast enough. Heat pumps, common in our area, face a duel role and sometimes need defrost cycle tweaks when winter gets damp and chilly.
Mechanical wear happens in different patterns. Capacitors drift out of spec after long cooling seasons. Combustion parts degrade during off months if moisture sits in the venting. Low refrigerant can go unnoticed in spring but becomes painfully obvious when August hits. Seasonal maintenance catches these patterns early.
Spring: prepare for cooling season while the pollen flies
Spring prep sets your AC up before summer gets mean. Pollen storms and tree debris show up earlier than the first 90 degree day, so airflow becomes your first priority. We time spring tune ups when daytime highs reach the 60s and 70s. That allows safe testing of cooling performance without forcing the system.
Start with the obvious. Filters matter more than any single component a homeowner can touch. If you have 1 inch filters, plan on changing them every one to two months, more often if you have pets or live near active construction. A 4 to 5 inch media filter can stretch to three to six months, but only if the home stays relatively clean. Hold a used filter up to a light; if you can’t see light through it, it is past due.
Look outside next. Clear the condenser on all sides. We want 18 to 24 inches of open space around the unit, not just for airflow but to keep lawn clippings from getting pulled through the coil. Gently rinse the coil from the inside out with a garden hose. Skip the high pressure nozzle and skip harsh chemicals. If you see heavy matting of cottonwood or pollen, we use coil safe cleaners, but proper rinse technique often does the job.
Inside the air handler or furnace cabinet, the evaporator coil lives quietly until it gets overlooked. That coil needs professional cleaning at regular intervals. We check static pressure, coil temperature drop, and blower performance to judge how dirty it might be. A clean coil keeps energy bills down and stops icing issues when humidity peaks.
Spring is also the time to test safety switches and control wiring. After a mild winter, rodents sometimes find a cozy spot in the cabinet. We see chewed low voltage wires more than homeowners expect. A quick wiring inspection and a tug test on connections prevents intermittent faults that only appear when heat and vibration rise.
Finally, take a look at your condensate drain. The first muggy day will put gallons of water through that line. A clogged trap can cause water damage in hours. Pour a cup of distilled white vinegar into the condensate trap in the spring, then flush with water. For systems with internal float switches, we test the switch to confirm it will shut the system down if the drain backs up. A ten dollar float switch has saved floors and ceilings more times than we can count.
Summer: efficiency, comfort, and staying ahead of storms
Once summer lands in Richmond, heat indexes do not ask for permission. AC systems run long cycles to wring moisture out of the air, and those cycles expose weaknesses fast. If you have not scheduled a spring tune up, do not wait for a failure. Light maintenance can still smooth out performance deep into summer.
Watch your thermostat display, but verify with a simple thermometer if something feels off. A system can be properly sized for the home and still struggle when doors open often, blinds stay up on the western side of the house, or attic insulation slumps. We advise customers to measure supply and return temperatures an hour into a steady run on a hot day. A 15 to 20 degree drop across the coil indicates reasonable performance. If you see less than 12 degrees, airflow or refrigerant charge may be off. If you see more than 22 degrees, the coil could be getting too cold from restricted airflow.
Random short cycling points to airflow, a failing capacitor, or a thermostat issue. Capacitors are a summer villain. They can test within spec cold, then drift when hot. We load test capacitors under operating conditions when we suspect trouble, not just with a meter on the workbench.
Storms bring another set of issues. Surge events and brief outages can scramble control boards and stress compressor windings. Consider a dedicated surge protector for your HVAC equipment. It costs less than most service calls and can be installed neatly near the disconnect. After a power outage, wait five to ten minutes before forcing the system back on. That pause allows pressures to equalize inside the refrigerant circuit, protecting the compressor on restart.
Keep the outside unit free of grass clippings and mulch. We often find units buried an inch lower than when they were set, thanks to soft soil and landscaping changes. If water pools around the pad during heavy rain, address grading. Prolonged standing water encourages rust and invites ants to nest in electrical compartments.
Humidity control deserves attention in our climate. AC systems dehumidify, but there are limits. If indoor humidity stays above 55 percent even with the AC running, you can try lowering the fan speed slightly to increase latent removal, but only within blower specifications. Sometimes a whole home dehumidifier makes more sense. We have installed them in crawlspace heavy neighborhoods where ground moisture creeps up. A dehumidifier paired with smart controls keeps the AC from overcooling just to chase humidity, which saves energy and improves comfort.
Fall: tune heat, tighten the envelope, and set expectations
As the switch to heating approaches, gas furnaces and heat pumps need different attention. For furnaces, clean combustion matters most. A layer of dust on the burner assembly or a spider web in the orifice can cause delayed ignition or uneven flames. We disassemble, clean, and verify flame patterns. The heat exchanger gets a careful inspection with mirrors and, when accessible, a borescope. Cracks are rare in younger units, but we look every time because safety comes first. CO detectors should live on each floor, particularly near sleeping areas, and should be replaced every five to seven years. Press the test button, then check manufacture dates.
Heat pumps call for defrost checks in fall, not on the first icy morning. We confirm temperature sensors read accurately, defrost boards respond, and outdoor fan motors spin freely. If you hear an occasional loud swoosh in winter and see steam, that can be normal defrost behavior. If it lingers or the unit ices up repeatedly, the timing or sensors may be off, or airflow is restricted.
Fall is also when duct issues show themselves. Warm air leaks close to the furnace are less noticeable than cooling leaks in summer, but the energy loss is real. We seal with mastic, not duct tape. If you have a crawlspace with ducts, a quick inspection for torn insulation and disconnected runs is worth the effort. We have crawled through plenty of tight spots to reattach a simple elbow that cut system capacity in half.
Thermostats deserve a checkup too. Swap batteries if your model uses them and review schedules. Many homes set summer schedules and leave winter untouched, resulting in morning complaints and afternoon overheating. For heat pumps, make sure the thermostat is set for the correct equipment type. An incorrect setting can call for auxiliary heat too early, which spikes bills. On older thermostats, a small dip switch or setup code aligns the control with heat pump logic.
Winter: reliability, defrost, and indoor air quality
By December, a heat pump or furnace has found its rhythm. The system has to start consistently, maintain setpoints without runaway aux heat, and keep occupants comfortable without big swings. If something feels off, trust those instincts and have it checked before a cold front stretches service schedules citywide.
For gas furnaces, pay attention to the startup routine. The sequence should be steady: inducer motor starts, pressure switch verifies venting, igniter glows, gas valve opens, flame proves, blower starts. Any stutter, repeated tries, or a rotten egg odor means stop and call a professional. Do not cycle power repeatedly to force it through a fault. Modern boards lock out to protect the system for a reason.
Heat pumps need clear outdoor coils when frost builds. Light rime that clears during defrost is normal. Thick ice caking the entire unit is not. If you see heavy icing, shut the system off at the thermostat and gently hose the coil with lukewarm water to remove accumulation, then call for service. Do not chip ice with tools. Many of the worst coil repairs we see started with well meaning but aggressive scraping.
Winter is also a good time to think about indoor air quality. With homes buttoned up, dust and VOCs linger longer. If your system can accommodate a higher efficiency filter without choking airflow, consider upgrading. We calculate static pressure before recommending a filter jump to avoid starving the blower. Portable room purifiers help, but cannot address whole home airflow. UV lights can help with coil cleanliness, but they do not replace filtration. We set realistic expectations, then match the solution to the problem.
Humidity control shifts in winter. Low humidity can make a 70 degree room feel cool and dry out wood floors and instruments. A whole home humidifier tied to the supply duct can maintain 30 to 40 percent relative humidity if the envelope is tight enough. In older leaky homes, humidifiers can backfire and cause condensation on windows and within walls. We evaluate building tightness, venting, and window condition before recommending one. Simple steps like sealing door sweeps and adding attic insulation sometimes cure the dryness complaint by reducing cold infiltration.
What a professional seasonal tune up actually includes
People often ask what they get for a tune up beyond a filter change. The answer: targeted testing, measurements, and cleaning in areas that directly affect performance and safety. Here is a compact look at the core elements we perform across seasons, adjusting for equipment type and condition.
- Electrical testing and calibration: Measure capacitor values under load, check contactor condition, tighten lugs to spec, and verify voltage drop across critical components. Airflow diagnostics: Record static pressure, compare to blower tables, inspect blower wheel, and confirm proper fan speed for the season. Refrigerant circuit evaluation: Check superheat and subcooling against manufacturer specs when conditions allow, inspect brazed joints and service valves for oil residue, and verify temperature split. Combustion and safety checks: Inspect heat exchanger where accessible, test flame sensor microamps, verify gas pressure, and confirm safety switch operation. Drainage and cleanliness: Clear condensate traps, test float switches, clean accessible coils with appropriate methods, and confirm cabinet and duct seals.
A thorough tune up takes time. On average, expect 60 to 90 minutes for a single system in good condition. Complex setups, attic units in tight spaces, or systems with IAQ add ons take longer. If a technician is in and out in twenty minutes with a checklist that looks the same every time, you are not getting the value you should.
The hidden economics of maintenance
The real savings of maintenance show up during extremes and on your monthly utility statement. Two examples stand out from recent seasons.
A family in Midlothian called with a six year old heat pump that could not hold temperature above 68 during a cold snap. We measured static pressure well above design because a return drop had been squeezed by a storage tote in the closet. The blower was starved, the system relied on aux heat, and bills shot up. Moving a storage bin and swapping a too dense filter for the correct MERV rating cut winter usage by roughly 15 percent the following month.
In Chesterfield, a homeowner kept replacing a 1 inch filter quarterly, thinking that was plenty. Summer humidity pushed their coil into intermittent icing. We found a matted evaporator coil and a weak run capacitor. After a detailed cleaning and capacitor replacement, the temperature split came back into range and runtime shortened. Their summer electric bill dropped between 10 and 20 percent compared to the previous year for similar weather, confirmed by their utility portal.
These cases underline a principle we see daily. Maintenance does not only prevent breakdowns. It keeps systems operating within their intended envelope, which is where efficiency lives.
Smart controls and small upgrades that pull their weight
Smart thermostats are most helpful when matched to the system type and installed with proper sensors. Not every smart stat plays nicely with heat pumps that use adaptive defrost or dual fuel setups. Choose a model that supports your exact equipment. We have had good results when thermostats use outdoor temperature to intelligently limit aux heat calls. That one feature can shave a surprising amount from winter bills.
Surge protection, as mentioned earlier, punches above its weight. A whole home surge device at your main panel protects many appliances. A dedicated HVAC surge protector mounted at the disconnect adds another layer and is inexpensive insurance.
For older duct systems, adding a second return or upsizing a tight return drop often pays back in comfort immediately. We measure the pressure at the filter slot, the blower door, and key trunks. When numbers are ugly, even modest duct changes make a system breathe like it should. That can free you to use a higher MERV filter without penalty.
What homeowners can do between visits
The best maintenance partnership shares responsibility. There are a few simple habits that create a protective cushion between professional tune ups.
- Change or clean filters on schedule and write the date on the frame so you are not guessing later. Keep outdoor units clear of vegetation, mulch, and drifting leaves and rinse coils gently each spring. Check the condensate line and trap for clogs, especially during peak cooling, and test float switches if present. Listen for new noises, short cycling, or unusual smells and note when they occur to help with diagnosis. Verify thermostat schedules twice a year and replace batteries annually if your model uses them.
Those five steps prevent a long list of common trouble calls. They also give your technician a clean baseline to work from, which makes the rest of the system easier to evaluate.
When to repair, when to replace
No one wants to talk about replacement until the repair math stops adding up. We frame the decision with a few practical lenses. First, safety trumps everything. If a furnace heat exchanger shows signs of failure, we recommend replacing the heat exchanger or the system, depending on age and parts availability. Second, repair cost versus remaining life matters. For equipment beyond 12 to 15 years, a repair that crosses a third of the cost of a new system deserves scrutiny.
Energy efficiency can tip the scales too. If your system runs many hours per year and you plan to stay in the home, stepping up to a higher efficiency heat pump or two stage furnace can produce real savings and steadier comfort. Zoning, variable speed blowers, and smart defrost controls add nuance to the conversation. There is no one size answer. That is where a local HVAC company that knows our weather and housing stock can give grounded advice.
Why local experience matters in Richmond and the surrounding counties
Richmond’s mix of historic homes, postwar neighborhoods, and new builds creates a variety of HVAC challenges. Brick homes with thick walls hold heat differently than newer open plan houses with tall ceilings. Crawlspaces are common, and moisture management under the home affects comfort upstairs. Tree cover and lot orientation change cooling loads by the hour. Experience in these microclimates informs everything from duct routing to humidity strategies.
Having a partner nearby also pays off when timing is critical. The first cold week and the first heat wave push call volumes up sharply. Preventive maintenance before those peaks keeps you out of that rush and extends the life of your equipment. If you searched HVAC Services Near Me or HVAC repair Richmond VA because comfort suddenly dipped, you already know the value of a fast response.
The Foster Plumbing & Heating approach
We have built our maintenance process around the realities of central Virginia weather and construction. Our technicians carry manometers, thermal cameras, and coil safe cleaning tools because static pressure and latent load matter as much as shiny parts. We take the time to measure and explain, so you know why a small change like opening a closed return grille can shift comfort throughout the house.
Customers appreciate that we do not push one brand or one way to heat and cool. Heat pumps shine in our climate, but in certain homes a hybrid system with a gas furnace for the coldest days makes sense. For older houses with limited return paths, we often start by improving airflow rather than recommending oversized equipment. It costs less and works better.
If you are due for seasonal service, need honest repair options, or want to plan an upgrade, we are ready to help.
Contact Us
Foster Plumbing & Heating
Address: 11301 Business Center Dr, Richmond, VA 23236, United States
Phone: (804) 215-1300
Website: http://fosterpandh.com/
Good maintenance is not glamorous, but it is reliable. Systems that get thoughtful attention in spring, quick touch ups mid summer, and careful checks before winter rarely surprise their owners. If you keep filters fresh, give your equipment room to breathe, and schedule regular tune ups, your HVAC will return the favor with steady comfort and lower bills. When you need a hand, Foster Plumbing & Heating is a call away, ready to bring the same practical approach we would want in our own homes.