Free checklist
Ductless mini-split annual maintenance checklist
The annual ductless mini-split service is the deep pass: the measurements, cleanings and tests a quarterly round doesn't reach. This checklist keeps the full service on record with the photos that make it defensible later. Work is commonly verified against IMC, manufacturer's published instructions. Confirm the edition your authority having jurisdiction has adopted.
- Items
- 6
- Photos required
- 7
- Built for
- Subcontractors
Who runs it
The HVAC service tech on the annual, with the heads opened up and gauges on the system where needed.
When in the schedule
Once a year, deep enough to reach the buildup on the blower wheel and coil that the quarterly filter change never touches.
The checklist
Every item, and the photo that proves it
The photo count on each row is what RTI would require before the item can be submitted. Copy the list as is, or load it into RTI and let the gate enforce it.
Deep cleaning
- 2 photos
Blower wheel and indoor coil cleaned
Head opened, blower wheel and coil cleaned of biofilm and dust, a cleaning that restores airflow rather than just swapping the filter.
- 1 photo
Condensate line flushed clear
Full drain line flushed and confirmed flowing, pump reservoir and float cleaned, trap or check verified where fitted.
Refrigerant and charge (awareness)
- 1 photo
System charge and operation checked against the data plate
Operating pressures and temperatures read where the system allows, compared against the manufacturer's charging data, a low reading treated as a leak to find rather than a top-off.
- 1 photo
Line-set connections and insulation inspected
Flare and connection points checked for oil residue that signals a leak, insulation resealed at the wall penetration and any exposed run.
Electrical and mounting
- 1 photo
Electrical connections and disconnect checked
Whip and terminal connections tight at the outdoor unit, disconnect intact, no heat discoloration at the lugs.
- 1 photo
Mounting, brackets and clearances verified
Wall bracket and outdoor pad or stand secure, head level so the pan drains, clearances around the condenser maintained.
What usually sends this back
The failures are almost always the evidence, not the work
- Filters changed for years while the blower wheel behind them silently packs with biofilm and loses half the airflow.
- Drain flushed at the pan only, leaving the slime in the line that clogs again within weeks.
- Low charge chased with a top-off instead of a leak found, so the same head is short on capacity again next season.
Run it with the Photo Gate
A checklist nobody can submit half-finished
Load this list into RTI, stick a QR tag on the area it covers, and the submit button stays locked until every mandatory item is answered and the 7 required photos exist. Approved walks roll into a branded turnover package with a tamper-evident record behind every line.
Submission state
The gate is enforced on the server, so it holds even if the phone is offline when the walk happens.
Verified against
Common questions
- What does this ductless mini-split annual checklist cover?
- 6 items across 3 sections, covering deep cleaning, refrigerant and charge (awareness), electrical and mounting. Each item spells out what the person walking the job is actually looking for, not just a box to tick.
- Who should run this inspection?
- The HVAC service tech on the annual, with the heads opened up and gauges on the system where needed.
- When in the schedule should this walk happen?
- Once a year, deep enough to reach the buildup on the blower wheel and coil that the quarterly filter change never touches.
- Why does every item ask for a photo?
- 7 of the 6 items call for photo evidence. A checklist answer without the photo is a claim; the photo is what makes the record worth something in a dispute and lets a reviewer approve work without re-walking the job.
- What most often fails a ductless mini-split annual inspection?
- Filters changed for years while the blower wheel behind them silently packs with biofilm and loses half the airflow. Drain flushed at the pan only, leaving the slime in the line that clogs again within weeks. Low charge chased with a top-off instead of a leak found, so the same head is short on capacity again next season.
- Can I use this checklist in RTI?
- Yes. Start a free RTI workspace, build this list as a checklist, and the Photo Gate holds the submit button until every mandatory item is answered and its photos are attached. Approved inspections roll into a branded turnover package with a tamper-evident audit trail.
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