Raise your hand if you’re ready to enter into the cooler fall months. As Mother Earth turns off the oven and switches on a cool, fall breeze, it’s time to make sure our heating units are ready to kick on during the cool evenings.
This is the time to pull out your HVAC maintenance checklist. A simple walkthrough, a light cleaning, and a test of your unit will ensure your nights are warm and your family is content. Here are our top six tips for calm, cool efficiency.
Change Your Air Filter
Air filters are one of the most important components of your A/C unit. They protect your family from allergens and other pollutants. If you haven’t already checked your filter, the fall is the optimal time to do so.
Clean Your Air Vents
You can probably see where we’re going with this. Your air ducts serve a similarly important role. They take that clean air and circulate it throughout your home, so you certainly want these pathways to be clean.
Not only do you want these pathways clean, but you also want to save money. Excessive dirt or blockages will force your system to work harder than it has to, reducing its efficiency.
Inspect Your Outside Unit
Step outside and inspect your HVAC unit. Make sure there’s not a tremendous amount of pollen, dirt, or debris on it. Remove any leaves or sticks that, like the air vents, would prevent it from functioning at its highest capacity.
Turn On Your Furnace
Once you’ve conducted these bits of cleaning, turn on your furnace. A quick test will tell you if anything is malfunctioning. It would be terrible to wait for the first frost to find out you need any repairs when a simple test can keep you in the clear.
Check for Air Leaks
Air leaks are another common problem that will force your unit to work harder than it has to. Walk around the house and check your windows and doors for air leaks.
If you suspect air is sneaking in at any of these points, take a sheet of paper and hold it up. You will see it swish if there’s a leak. Your next step would be to replace the weather stripping at that point.
Schedule Professional Maintenance
If you’re finding too many problems or suspect there’s a major malfunction in your system, schedule professional maintenance. Bring the HVAC doctors into your home to conduct an overall health check.
They can complete the smaller tasks, like replacing your air filters, as well as the larger tasks you may not want to tackle yourself.
Your HVAC Maintenance Checklist
We hope this simple HVAC maintenance checklist will put your mind at ease and keep your family safe and warm. Gear up for those cool, fall evenings filled with hot apple cider and warm cocoa.
And, if you live in any of our Georgia service areas, feel free to give us a call today for your very own maintenance appointment.
