Just like you should visit your doctor for annual checkups, your heating and air conditioning system requires regular maintenance and cleaning to ensure proper operation and efficiency. In fact, deferring maintenance can not only damage your system but also can expose you and your loved ones to air that is unhealthier than Los Angeles’ infamous smog.

Some companies offer seasonal preventive maintenance packages so that your HVAC system is in optimum working order when extreme weather hits. That may include inspection of primary, secondary and condensate drains, blower, coils and condenser, electrical settings and adjustments, safety controls and set ups and thermostat operation and heat exchanger.

Before the hot LA summers hit, the U.S. Energy Star program recommends that property owners have the following tasks completed to reduce energy costs and increase the life of equipment:

• Clean evaporator and condenser air conditioning coils. Dirty coils prevent the system from cooling your home efficiently and cause it to run longer.
• Check your central air conditioners refrigerant level. Too much or too little refrigerant can make your system operate less efficiently.
• Clean and adjust blower components. This ensures proper system airflow for greater comfort.
• Airflow problems can reduce your system's efficiency by 15 percent.
• Lubricate moving parts. This could reduce the amount of electricity your system uses.
• Clean or replace filers. Every year you should clean or replace your filters in order to ensure you are breathing clean air.
• Have the whole system cleaned. Regular cleaning will improve system efficiency and can reduce allergens and cigarette or cigar smoke. Cleaning only the ducts can lead to recontamination.
• Inspect all connections. Gas or oil connections, gas pressure, burner combustion and heat exchanger on your heating system must be checked. Improper gas or oil connections are a fire hazard and can lead to health problems, and a dirty burner or cracked heat exchanger causes improper burner operation.

The National Air Duct Cleaners Association warns consumers to be wary of companies that advertise low-priced “whole house specials,” because they usually include only the ducts, charging more for other parts of the system.

As always, get three estimates. Check references, insurance, bonding and licensure before hiring a service provider.