Now that fall is well and truly upon us, it is important that you make sure your HVAC is in top working order before the winter months arrive.
After working so hard to keep your house cool throughout summer, you now need to make sure your HVAC is fully prepared to keep you warm and comfy throughout the cold fall and winter months.
We’ve gathered our top tips to make sure your HVAC system stays working for you throughout the colder seasons:
Change the air filter
This should go without saying, but you should make sure you change your air filter as often as your manufacturer recommends, usually every 2 -3 months.
It is especially important to make sure your HVAC has a shiny new filter for fall, after the intensive work it put in during the summer.
Changing the filter regularly means that your furnace won’t have to work as hard to heat up your home, saving you money on your energy bills by allowing your HVAC to run more efficiently.
Clear around the outside unit
Of course, it is important year round to make sure your outdoor unit is clear of debris, as this ensures airflow isn’t restricted.
However, during the fall, you should be checking your outdoor unit frequently. The high volume of leaves and debris present during the autumn months can easily clog up your outside unit, not only restricting airflow but also presenting a potential fire hazard if not cleared.
Clean your vents
Particularly after a hot summer, lots of dust and debris can build up in your HVAC unit, so you should get into the habit of checking your vents and vacuuming them to make sure your unit is dust free. This ensures that your unit won’t be pumping dust back into your home.
Consider upgrading your thermostat
Heading into fall and winter is the perfect time to consider updating your HVAC system by upgrading from a standard to a programmable model. If you invest in a programmable model and take the time to program it you can match your HVAC to your exact needs.
Or you could go one step further and invest in a smart thermostat, which will allow you to fine tune your HVAC needs even when you aren’t home!
If you already have a programmable thermostat, make sure you update its settings from summer heading into the colder months.
Schedule maintenance with a professional
It is important that you schedule a maintenance check for your HVAC system once a year and heading into fall can be the perfect time to have this done. A maintenance check will make sure everything is in working order after summer, and make sure any problems are dealt with before winter begins.
A yearly check can spot potential problems before they become major issues that stop your system working and require costly repairs to fix.
Be sure to visit C.W. Schultz for more tips about getting the most out of your HVAC unit.