As a homeowner, you want to do your part to ensure that your heating system works efficiently and lasts as long as possible. One of the best ways to do this is to ensure that you perform adequate fall maintenance on your HVAC system. We’ll go over some of these maintenance tasks below to ensure that you cover all the necessities.
Program Your Thermostat
Once you’re done with your air conditioning system, it’s important to switch your thermostat over to heating mode. If you have a programmable or smart thermostat, you should take the time now to program in your settings. To ensure efficient energy usage, you should program temperatures to be lower when you’re away from home so your heating system runs less often.
Get Professional Maintenance
One imperative task is to schedule professional maintenance service with one of our HVAC technicians. This will help to ensure that all the internal components of your heating system get the proper care they need to operate in tip-top condition. This professional maintenance service also helps keep your system’s warranty active and extends the overall lifespan of your heating system. Furthermore, a technician will be able to alert you of any potential problems your system may have so that you can get them addressed before the cold weather sets in.
Order Fuel
Some heating systems require propane or heating oil. If you have one of these systems, then you likely have a storage tank for that fuel at your home. You’ll want to call now to schedule fuel delivery service. This will ensure that your tank is full and ready.
Check Your Air Vents
In order for your heating system to work efficiently, all the air vents throughout your home need to be fully open. You should make it a priority to walk around every room and check to ensure each vent is open. Furthermore, make sure you remove any obstructions that are within a three-foot radius of the vent. Any obstructions could hinder airflow at the vent and lead to poor performance of your heating system.
Test Detectors
If your heating system burns heating oil, natural gas, or propane, then you’re going to need both carbon monoxide and smoke detectors at your home. A good rule of thumb is to have detectors outside each bedroom and on each level of your home. You should hit the test button on all these detectors and replace any batteries that are showing to be low.
Replace HVAC Air Filter
Another necessary maintenance task that you’ll want to undertake is to replace your HVAC air filter. You’ll want to replace it with a filter that has the exact same dimensions to ensure effective performance. It’s a good idea to have multiple filters on hand so that you can replace them whenever necessary without hesitation.
Chimney Sweeping
All fuel-burning heating systems are going to produce some sort of residue as part of the combustion process. This residue can get stuck to the inside of your chimney, which can result in inefficient airflow and a potential fire hazard. Every fall, you’ll want to schedule to have your chimney swept out and inspected for any potential damage.
Fix New Air Leaks
As the temperature changes and your house settles, air leaks can develop on the walls that make up the exterior of your home. If you leave these leaks untouched, they can allow unwanted cold air to seep in during the winter months. You should make it a habit to walk around and check all your doors and windows for potential leaks.
You can seal them off with silicone caulking or weather stripping. You should also check the light switches and outlets on your exterior walls to see if there are any air leaks. If so, you can use specialized foam inserts that sit behind the cover plate to stop them.
Switch Ceiling Fan Direction
Ceiling fans can be a great supplemental way to reduce your utility bills throughout the year. When you switch from summertime to wintertime, you want to switch the direction your ceiling fans spin. In the wintertime, they should be spinning in a clockwise direction. This will help to force the hot air stuck at the top of your rooms outward and down to the floor.
Clean Out Your Utility Space
With open space around your heating system during the summertime, it can be really easy to fill it up with various items. Whether it’s an old lamp or a box of books that you need to store, these items can turn into a real hazard when your heating system needs to kick on. You should remove any items within five feet of your heating system to greatly reduce your risk of experiencing a fire hazard.
Check Your Fire Extinguisher
It’s always a good idea to have a fire extinguisher within a close distance of your heating system. This way, if a fire does break out, you have a way to extinguish it safely. You’ll want to ensure that your fire extinguisher is rated for your HVAC system. You’ll want to use either a Class C fire extinguisher or an extinguisher that’s rated for multiple classes, including C. Make it a point to check the expiration date to ensure that your fire extinguisher is still good for use.
Consider Duct Sealing and Cleaning Services
If you have a forced-air heating system, then you need to be thinking about the health of your ductwork. Over time, airborne debris can get stuck inside your ducting and reduce the quality of air inside your home. This can make allergy, asthma, and respiratory illness symptoms much worse. Duct cleaning service will help remove this buildup debris and enhance your overall indoor air quality.
Time can also take its toll on the various connections throughout your ducting. It’s not uncommon for joints to loosen up and for holes to develop. Duct sealing service will help to tighten up those joints and seal up any holes to ensure that your heating system can deliver all the hot air it produces to the various rooms throughout your home.
Cover Your Outdoor AC Unit
As part of your fall heating system maintenance routine, you should also ensure that you cover your outdoor air conditioning unit. This is best done with a specialized AC cover. This cover will have a sealed top to prevent debris from falling down into the unit. It will also have breathable sides that help to prevent the majority of weather from getting in, while still allowing any moisture inside the unit to get out. This helps to prevent internal corrosion over the winter months.
Reliable Heating Maintenance Service
Christian Brothers Air Conditioning Plumbing Electrical offers reliable heating maintenance service for the entire Glendale, AZ community. Our technicians can assist with all your heating, air conditioning, electrical, plumbing, duct repair, indoor air quality, UV sanitizing light, AC filter, refrigerant leak, air handler, and insulation needs. Simply call us today to set up an appointment with one of our knowledgeable HVAC technicians.
