It’s official—the seasons are changing. That means switching from baseball to football, mowing grass to raking leaves, pool parties and barbecues to pumpkin patches and apple picking. And of course, it also means switching from air conditioning to heating. If your heater has been sitting dormant for months, collecting dust and not receiving any maintenance, you may be ill-prepared to face the fall weather. Keep reading to learn how to get your HVAC system ready for fall, and remember, from heat pumps to furnaces to boilers, you can count on All Pro Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electrical for all your home comfort needs.
5 Ways to Prepare Your HVAC System for the Fall
- Check Air Filters: Regardless of what season it is or what type of system you have, this is a standard piece of HVAC maintenance that every homeowner should undertake several times a year. A dirty furnace filter will not only affect your indoor air quality, it will force your system to work harder, meaning you will pay more in heating costs in the long run. Plus, your heating system simply won’t be able to heat your home as efficiently if it has a dirty filter. This fall, make sure to check your HVAC filters before turning your heater on. Also, it’s not a bad idea to change your AC filter now, so you’re ready for unexpected warm weather/ when it gets hot again.
- Cut Down on Air Leaks: Every year, homeowners waste a ton of money on heating and cooling costs because of air loss throughout their home. And while you may not be able to prevent air loss entirely, there are things you can do to reduce it significantly, thereby sealing in temperatures so your system works more efficiently and your bills stay lower. Start by caulking any cracks and holes you find throughout your home. You should also weather-strip and seal all windows and doors. You may want to inspect your insulation too, especially if you have not been up to your attic and checked what condition it is in for a few years. And of course, it’s never a bad idea to see if you need duct cleaning and repair, as leaky ductwork is one of the top reasons homeowners experience unnecessary air loss.
- Clean Outdoor Unit: Many HVAC systems have an indoor and outdoor unit that work in tandem from season to season. As fall begins, it is possible that your outdoor unit will start to get covered by leaves and other debris. This component may also have experienced damage if you did any yard work over summer. And in a worst-case scenario, some critter can even take up residence inside your exterior equipment. Bottom line, your outside HVAC unit is meant to withstand a lot, however, it should still be cleaned from season to season. And if it looks like it has experienced any damage, make sure to give a technician a call right away.
- Make Sure Smoke Detector/Carbon Monoxide Alarm Are Working: Today’s modern heating systems are safer than ever, manufactured with various mechanisms to prevent something like a gas leak or a fire from occurring. However, even in the most cutting-edge systems, it is possible for errors to occur, which is why it is extremely important at the start of heating season to ensure your smoke detector and carbon monoxide alarms have batteries and are working (you can test these systems by pressing the buttons on each device.) Also, the U.S. Fire Administration recommends replacing your smoke detector and carbon monoxide alarm every ten years, so consider finding the model number on this equipment and looking it up to see how old your devices are.
- Call for an Inspection: Ultimately, the best way to ensure your heating system and all your other HVAC equipment is in great shape is still to call a professional technician for an inspection. At All Pro Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electrical, we can assess the conditioning of your heating system, potentially catching any major problems before the equipment is in use. We can also detect if any repairs or replacements are necessary, and with safety evaluations for every system starting at just $49, it’s never a bad idea to call the pros at All Pro Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electrical.
All Pro Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electrical is available by phone at (909) 500-8193, or you can simply fill out our contact form online. Do not hesitate to call us 24/7 for emergency service!