Is Your HVAC Ready for Fall?

As September moves along, we’re inching closer to using the A/C less and the heat more. Next month, we probably won’t use the HVAC much at all for a couple weeks here in the Nashville, TN area.

That’s great news and all, but aren’t there a few things you should consider before turning the thermostat to “heat”? Yes, in fact, there are! To find out what heating preps you can do for your HVAC unit, keep reading.

 

Air Filters

One thing you should be doing already is keeping up with air filter changes. How often to change the filter that goes in your air return is included on the filter packaging, but most good quality filters tell you to switch them out every 90 days (or when they are dirty). Write down the next change on your calendar so you don’t forget. Fall is probably the next time you need to change your filter anyway, so plan to pick up an air filter on your next grocery run.

 

Vents

Keeping up with air vents in all the rooms of your house is perhaps not on your list of regular maintenance chores, but it’s time to make it so. Pet hair, mold, dust, dirt, and more builds up on the grates covering registers and the air return, spewing pollutants into your home’s air every time it comes on. So just like many people do spring cleaning, make “fall cleaning” a thing in September before you change the A/C over to heat to keep your indoor air quality healthy. Find out how to effectively clean these grates here.

 

Drafts?

Before you engage your heating unit, checking for drafts will save you a lot of money. Checking for drafts is pretty simple, but finding and stopping them takes a little more time. To check for the drafts, follow the instructions in this post. Identify the most common sources of drafts (it’s not just the doors!) and light a candle or incense close to these sources on a windy day. If the candle flickers out the incense smoke moves erratically, you know there’s a draft present. You can stop up the draft with caulk or spray foam. Or you can hire a professional Nashville heating service to identify and stop the drafts for you. Either way, performing this task can save you up to 10% on your energy bill!

 

Schedule Some Maintenance

Finally, the last thing to do after tackling simple HVAC fall maintenance projects yourself is to call in a heating contractor like Halo Heating & Cooling to do a seasonal inspection. He or she will inspect your HVAC unit for malfunctions, preventing big bills if anything in your unit is near the end of its life. You can find maintenance agreements with most HVAC service companies, so do some research to find out the best company and price point for your home’s unit. Preventive maintenance can save you money and discomfort as winter comes on.

 

What do you do to get your HVAC unit ready for winter?

Take advantage of the milder weather of September to do maintenance on your outdoor HVAC unit. You won’t regret these preparations or these when our next snow hits and your HVAC doesn’t miss a beat!

What do you like to do at the end of summer to get your HVAC ready for the switch to heat? Or maybe you’ve never thought much about it before. Either way, we want to hear your story! Leave a comment in the box below.