Short answer: In the Walla Walla Valley, schedule a professional air conditioning tune up in spring and a professional heating tune up in fall, before you need either one. Between those visits, the homeowner work is mostly filters, clearing the outdoor unit, and watching the condensate drain. Our dusty summers, smoky late season, and cold winters mean valley equipment works harder than the manufacturer's average customer, so the calendar matters more here than it would somewhere mild.
We have been maintaining heating and cooling systems in this valley since 1949. The pattern of what fails, and when, is remarkably consistent. Here is the year laid out season by season, with the jobs that are yours and the jobs that need a technician.
Why does the valley need its own maintenance schedule?
Because the conditions here are not average. Four things drive it:
- Wide seasonal swings. Hot dry summers and cold winters mean both sides of the system get a full workout every year.
- Agricultural dust. Field work and harvest put fine particulate in the air that ends up in your filter and on your coils.
- Wildfire smoke. Late summer smoke loads filters faster than anything else on this list.
- Older housing stock. Many valley homes have ductwork and equipment locations that need periodic attention.
Spring: get ready for cooling season
Spring is the best time of year to have your air conditioner or heat pump serviced. The point is to find problems while it is still comfortable outside, not during the first genuinely hot week when everyone calls at once.
What you can do yourself
- Replace the filter and start the season clean
- Clear leaves, weeds, and winter debris from around the outdoor unit
- Keep at least a couple of feet of open space on all sides of the outdoor unit
- Remove any cover you put on for winter before running the system
- Run the system briefly on a mild day to confirm it starts and cools
What a technician should do
- Check refrigerant charge and look for leaks
- Clean the outdoor coil, which collects valley dust all year
- Test capacitors, contactors, and electrical connections
- Clear the condensate drain before it has a chance to clog
- Measure airflow and temperature split across the coil
- Verify thermostat operation and calibration
That coil cleaning matters more here than the brochures suggest. A dirty outdoor coil cannot reject heat, which makes the system run longer, cost more, and wear faster. In homes near open fields around Touchet, we see coils load up noticeably faster than in town.
Summer: keep it running through the heat and the smoke
Summer is not really a service season. It is a watch and maintain season.
- Check the filter monthly. During smoke and harvest, look at it every few weeks.
- Keep the outdoor unit clear. Grass clippings and cottonwood fluff mat onto the coil fins.
- Watch for water. A wet spot near the indoor unit usually means a clogged condensate drain.
- Notice new noises. A rattle or grinding sound is worth a call before it becomes a failure.
- Do not crank the thermostat down. Setting it to 62 does not cool the house faster. It just runs the system longer.
One local note on smoke. When the valley fills with wildfire smoke in late summer, run your system's fan with a good filter installed and keep windows closed. Your HVAC system becomes your best available air cleaner. Just plan on changing that filter sooner than the box says.
Fall: get ready for heating season
Fall is the other appointment that matters. Have the heating side serviced before the first cold snap, for the same reason as spring. Availability is better and a small problem found in October is much easier than a no heat call in January.
What you can do yourself
- Replace the filter going into the season
- Test your carbon monoxide detectors and replace the batteries
- Clear stored items away from the furnace, especially anything flammable
- Check that supply and return vents are open and not blocked by furniture or rugs
- Run the heat for a few minutes on a cool day so you find problems on your schedule
What a technician should do
- Inspect the heat exchanger for cracks, which is a genuine safety check
- Test and clean the burners and check the flame pattern
- Verify venting and combustion air are correct and unobstructed
- Test safety controls and limit switches
- Check the blower motor and inspect the belt if the unit has one
- On a heat pump, test defrost operation and backup heat
That first smell of dust burning off when the heat runs for the first time is normal and should fade within a few minutes. If it lingers, or if you smell anything else, shut it down and call.
Winter: watch and protect
Winter maintenance is short. Mostly you are keeping an eye on things.
- Keep the filter changed. Heating season loads filters too.
- Keep snow and ice clear of the outdoor unit if you have a heat pump. It needs airflow year round.
- Let the defrost cycle work. A heat pump steaming and briefly blowing cooler air is normal, not a failure.
- Do not close vents in unused rooms. It raises duct pressure and can hurt the system.
- Watch your bills. A sudden jump with no weather change usually means something is wrong.
How often should HVAC be professionally serviced?
Twice a year for a heat pump, since it works in both seasons. Twice a year is also right for a home with separate air conditioning and furnace equipment, one visit for each side. Once a year is the honest minimum, and if you only do one, do the heating visit, because the heat exchanger inspection is a safety item.
Skipping maintenance does not usually cause a dramatic failure. It causes a slow decline: higher bills, less comfort, and a system that reaches the end of its life several years early. That is the expensive part.
When is maintenance not worth the money?
We will say it plainly. If your system is already at the end of its life and you have decided to replace it this year, a full tune up on the old unit is usually not a good use of your money. Change the filter, keep it running, and put the money toward the replacement. Ask us and we will tell you which situation you are in.
Next step
If you cannot remember the last time your system was serviced, spring or fall is the easy place to start. We are NATE certified and we work throughout the valley, from College Place and Walla Walla out to Dayton, Waitsburg, and across the line into Oregon. Call (509) 525-8073 when you are ready.