During the cold season, your HVAC unit becomes the most valuable appliance in your home. However, if it’s not running properly, that means higher energy bills and a less comfortable home for you. A hot water heater and heating your living space are generally the biggest energy expenses for many homeowners. Therefore, it’s important to ensure your heating bills remain as reasonable as possible by servicing your home’s HVAC unit regularly to keep it functioning properly.
With the arrival of the fall season, you’ll soon switch from the cooling setting to the heating. Fall is the ideal time of the year to get ahead of the game and focus on preparing your HVAC system for the colder temperatures. Here are some tasks you need to complete to help your HVAC equipment operate efficiently and optimally throughout the cold winter months.
1. HVAC Professional Maintenance
Scheduling professional HVAC servicing is the best way to prepare your unit for cooler weather. Manufacturers and HVAC experts recommend scheduling HVAC tune-ups two times annually. The best times to do that are in the spring and fall. Your service technician will visit your home and thoroughly inspect the HVAC equipment. They will inspect the wiring and make the necessary adjustments.
Your service technician will also clean the internal components and perform major jobs like full-scale repairs or replacement of your furnace or heater. The technicians can also catch any minor problems before they become full-blown emergencies. Scheduling annual preventative is vital to keeping your HVAC running at peak performance throughout the cooler weather.
2. Change Your Filters
Inside your HVAC is a filter that protects your family and home from air pollution and allergens. The filter pulls debris, dirt, and other air contaminants from the air. With time, the filter gets blocked or clogged, meaning you need to clean or replace it. Failing to replace your HVAC unit’s filter can compromise your indoor air quality. Besides, clogged filters can cause mechanical issues in your heater, leaving you without a heating source in the cold winter months.
According to experts, you need to check your air filters often and replace them every 1 to 3 months, depending on the model and environmental conditions. Unless you changed the HVAC system’s filter recently, the beginning of the fall season is the perfect time to do so. Replacing the filter will make the HVAC equipment work more efficiently during the year’s cooler months.
3. Inspect and Clean Your Ductwork and Vents
Air vents and ductwork are responsible for distributing air throughout your residential property. However, they must be cleaned regularly to ensure they do their job properly. Blocked ducts will force your HVAC system to overwork, decreasing the efficiency and lifespan of the unit. Contact your HVAC technician to get your air vents and ducts ready for fall. The professional will inspect your house and check to ensure all registers are open. They’ll also ensure that no furniture or other items are blocking the registers. Then, your technician will clean visible dust from your air vents and ducts.
After the cleaning, the professional will inspect the ductwork for loose connections and holes. Air ducts are built in many segments and can sometimes become loose and leaky at the joints. Loose connections can lead to air leaks, meaning your furnace will work harder to keep your house comfortable. Air leaks can also lead to increased energy bills. Therefore, it’s important to have your ductwork inspected and patched up to prepare it for cooler weather.
4. Check the Fan Blowers and Burners
Fall is the ideal time to check your furnace to ensure it works well before winter arrives. Before turning on your furnace for the first time in a while, allow your technician to inspect the unit. The professional will check the furnace for any dust that might have built up on it over the summer and then test the heating unit.
Just like your car, your HVAC unit needs time to adjust to the heating demands of your house day and night. And because you have not used the furnace in several months, it might take some time for the heating unit to regain its normal efficiency and speed.
Call your HVAC technician for a furnace inspection if you notice strange noises or unpleasant odors when performing trial runs of your furnace. The professional will inspect and service the unit to ensure it’s ready to warm up your living space around the clock before the cold weather sets in.
5. Seal Air Leaks
According to research, air leaks are among the most common causes of HVAC inefficiencies. Your home’s air leaks can cost you a lot of money in energy loss, especially during extreme temperatures. If some of your rooms consistently feel colder or warmer than others, you may have a leakage in the ventilation ducts.
Contact your technician to help locate the leakage and make your residence more energy-efficient for the cold weather. Insulating the attic can also keep warm air in the house and prevent it from escaping outdoors. Then, your HVAC equipment will work less while maintaining your home’s ideal temperatures.
6. Clean the Outdoor Unit and the Area Around It
HVAC outdoor units naturally collect dirt and debris. Ensure there are no leaves or any other items lodged inside the unit. Your technician may need to deep clean the unit to ensure no foreign objects are inside the fans and vents. The professional will also check the unit for damage during the cleaning process.
Since the outdoor unit sits outside, it’s subjected to many weather elements that can cause damage to it. If you notice damages, call your service technician to inspect the unit. What appears like just surface damage might affect how your HVAC runs.
Cleaning the area around the HVAC outdoor unit is also important to ensure proper airflow in the unit. If some trees or shrubs are growing too close to your unit, cut them back before the cold weather sets in. Then, clean the area around your unit by sweeping away rocks, twigs, dirt, and dead leaves.
Call the Cooling and Heating Professionals Today!
Before winter arrives, you should complete the above tasks to ensure your HVAC is ready to handle the cold weather challenges. Many repair calls during winter are due to a lack of preventative maintenance in the previous year. Whether you have an older or newer HVAC system, scheduling annual maintenance will keep your unit in tip-top shape. When you’re proactive about taking care of your home’s HVAC unit, you’ll have confidence that it’ll continue to be in good working condition when winter arrives. And, as a homeowner, there’s nothing more important than your peace of mind.
Contact our service technicians at Blue Ribbon Cooling & Heating today to keep your HVAC equipment running its best. These professionals will inspect your HVAC equipment and provide fair and expert service to ensure your indoor environment remains comfortable throughout the cold months. We also offer AC, heating, and plumbing services throughout Bastrop, TX, and the surrounding regions. Contact us today to book your HVAC maintenance appointment.