HVAC systems in Tacoma, Washington, battle soggy winters and mild summers like champs, but skip maintenance, and they cough up higher bills or breakdowns mid-rainstorm. Standard procedures keep furnaces humming through 40-degree chills and ACs whispering through pollen clouds, saving Tacoma homeowners 15-20% on energy in Pierce County’s damp grip. Follow this tune-up playbook twice yearly—spring for cooling, fall for heat—and your system runs smoother than a Sounder train.
Filter Swap: Breathe Easy First
Air filters clog with Tacoma’s cedar pollen and construction dust faster than a barge backs up the Thea Foss Waterway. Check monthly, swap every 1-3 months depending on pets or smokers—dirty ones choke airflow, spike bills 15%, and frost coils. Grab MERV 8-11 pleated filters for balance; no need for overkill HEPA unless allergies rage.
Pop the return vent, slide in a new one, and you’re done in five minutes. Pro tip: Note the install date on the frame. Neglect sparks mold in ducts, turning cozy homes into cough factories.
Outdoor Coil Clean-Up
Tacoma’s outdoor units suck in leaves, lint, and fairground soot—clean condenser coils twice yearly so heat dumps fast. Spring prep: hose fins gently (no pressure washer dents), yank weeds within 2 feet, and straighten bent fins with a $5 comb. Winter debris buries efficiency; clogged coils mimic a blocked tailpipe.
Level the unit on stable pads—Tacoma clay shifts with rain, tilting the drains and refrigerant. Algae from humid air? Vinegar spray kills it green without harsh chems.
Indoor Evaporator and Blower TLC
Evaporator coils inside air handlers ice over from dirt, killing cool air summer-long. Shut off power, spray no-rinse coil cleaner (foam expands into the fins), and let it drip into the pan. Blower wheels spin grimy—vacuum squirrel cage, wipe blades, lubricate motor bearings if accessible (oil ports take SAE 20 non-detergent).
Tacoma’s damp ducts breed mildew; pros fog the ducts with antimicrobial spray yearly. Tighten belts on older units—slap means slippage, wear.
Drain Line Flush: No Leaky Surprises
Condensate lines clog with algae and sludge, dumping water on attics or basements during Tacoma’s drizzly spells. Pour a 1:1 vinegar-bleach mix or enzyme tablets monthly down the T—prevents standing water that rots pans. Overflow switches trip units safely, but fix pronto to dodge mold blooms.
Insulate lines in unheated spaces; freeze-ups crack PVC in rare cold snaps.
Electrical and Safety Checks
Loose wires spark fires—inspect terminals yearly, tighten with nut drivers (power off!). Capacitors bulge like overripe fruit? Swap ’em (microfarad match exact). Safety switches on furnaces test with a multimeter—limit switches halt gas flow on overheat.
Carbon monoxide detectors nearby? Swap batteries fall and spring. Tacoma pros check heat exchangers for rust cracks—CO leaks kill quietly.
Refrigerant and Controls Test
Low refrigerant leaks slowly from vibration or formicary corrosion in coastal air—gauge pressures, add R-410A only if certified (DIY illegal). Thermostats misread by 3 degrees? Recalibrate or upgrade to programmable—saves 10% auto-setbacks.
Run complete cycles: amp draw on motors (nameplate max), static pressure under 0.5″ WC. Noisy contactors? Clean pitting with sandpaper.
Seasonal Split: Fall Furnace Focus
Fall hits Tacoma first: clean burners (vacuum ports), flame sensor (steel wool swipe), and flue pipe (bird nests out). Verify rollout switch trips on sooty burn. Heat pumps? Defrost boards clean, reversing valve tests click.
Lube draft motors—squeals mean dry bearings fry fast.
Infinity Heating: Your Tacoma Tune-Up Team
HVAC hiccups? Infinity Heating runs pro checklists to beat Tacoma weather woes—book and calm, warm, and bill-smart.
Contact Information
Address: 26212 68th Ave E Graham, WA 98338
Phone: (253) 465-4452
Website: infinityheatingandair.com
Source: infinityheatingandair.com
Header Image Source: Photo by Tekton on Unsplash
