Must-Do Fall HVAC Maintenance: Your Essential Checklist for a Cozy Season
Let’s Talk Autumn HVAC Care
Temperatures will be dropping soon, which means it’s time to think about your HVAC unit’s seasonal tune-up needs. So, while you’re pulling out warmer clothes and preparing for cooler temps… don’t forget to check out this handy Fall HVAC Maintenance Checklist before you fire up that furnace.
Give Your Unit Room to Breathe
Give your unit a little breathing room! As a part of your Fall HVAC maintenance plan, you should check your outdoor unit and clear it of any debris that may have accumulated. This typically includes leaves, dirt, dust & pollen.
Eliminate leaves and other debris near your outdoor unit to lessen system strain and improve the overall longevity of your HVAC unit
Removing them will allow for better airflow and lessen the strain on your HVAC unit. Ideally, you want about two feet of space around your unit in order to provide optimal breathing room. This practice coupled with proper seasonal tune-ups from a professional at Air Dynamics HVAC will improve efficiency and extend your unit’s overall lifespan. Saving you money on your monthly utility bills.
Don’t Forget About Your Vents
Before you turn on your heater for the season take a quick look at your vents. Dirty, dust-covered vents can impede airflow and pull unnecessary debris into your HVAC system causing system strain over time.
Keep vents and ducts clean and free of debris
As you ready your system for the change in season, it is always good practice to clear any debris from your ducts and give your vent covers a good wipe down. This will help to keep your system running efficiently throughout the season.
Do A Little Dusting
Springtime isn’t the only time to think about dust, dander & pollen.
Throughout the Spring and Summer months, we accumulate dust, dander, and pollen inside our homes too. Your HVAC system if not fitted with a proper filter, will pick those nasty buggers up and blow them throughout your home. These irritants can cause you to feel uncomfortable.
Dust, pollen, and dander can leave you feeling irritated & uncomfortable
Get rid of them before they do!
So, when temperatures start dropping it’s a good idea to break out the vacuum and duster and get to work on ridding yourself and your home of any allergens as a part of your regular Fall HVAC maintenance plan.
Change Your Air Filters
A clogged air filter can be harmful to your system. When your air filter is clogged, the lack of airflow causes your air handler to work harder in order to keep up. On average you should change your filters at least once every 30 to 90 days. If you have pets in your home you may need to replace them sooner.
Dirty filters cause unnecessary system strain and lead to poor air quality & inadequate heating/cooling
Inefficiency caused by clogged filters can not only drive up your energy bill; it’s also a major contributor to poor in-home air quality. This can not only cause allergies to flare up but can be especially irritating to those who suffer from asthma or other respiratory conditions.
Give Your Humidifier A Little TLC
A humidifier is an excellent addition to any home in the cooler months. It cuts down on static, saves your furniture from warping, helps to keep your sinuses clear, and improves breathing. What’s not to love? But, did you know that your whole home humidifier requires maintenance too?
Due to the potential of mold and bacteria growth, it’s essential that you properly clean and maintain your whole-home humidifier
If you have a whole-home humidifier installed in your house, it is important to remember to schedule it for maintenance. Without proper maintenance, your humidifier is at risk of developing mold and bacteria that can leave you feeling sick. Lack of proper maintenance can also prevent your humidifier from providing you with the moisture required to keep your home comfortable. Ideally, this should occur at the same time as your heaters seasonal tune-up. Or, once a year at a minimum. To have your humidifier serviced, contact a professional at Air Dynamics HVAC today by calling us directly at (215) 571-9471.
Replace Batteries In Your Carbon Monoxide Detector/Alarm
It is scary to think that an invisible odorless gas can cause you to lose your life. Familiarizing yourself with the warning signs and proper carbon monoxide detector placement and replacing batteries when needed may just save your life. Protect yourself and your family by changing the batteries in your carbon monoxide alarm this Fall or at least once every 6 months.
If you suspect you or a loved one has been exposed to high levels of carbon monoxide DO NOT WAIT, seek immediate medical attention
Is your carbon monoxide detector over 5 years old? If so, it may be time to purchase a new one. On average most carbon monoxide alarms have a lifespan of 5-7 years before they require replacement.
If you suspect you or a loved one has been exposed to high levels of carbon monoxide DO NOT WAIT immediately seek medical attention. A blood test will be able to accurately confirm or negate the presence of carbon monoxide in your body.
To have your furnace checked for a carbon monoxide leak contact a professional at Air Dynamics HVAC today!
Check Your Smoke Detector
Smoke alarms save lives! Maintain your smoke alarm by checking them every month. You can easily do this by simply pressing the test button on each alarm. If your smoke alarm uses regular batteries, you should swap them with fresh ones at least once a year.
If your smoke alarm is making a “chirping” sound, it’s time to change your batteries
Is your smoke alarm is making a “chirping” sound? If so, that is a clear indicator that it’s time to change your batteries. On average your smoke detector should last approximately 10 years before it needs replacing.
Schedule Your Furnace For Seasonal Maintenance
The last thing you want when the cold weather starts rolling in is an expensive HVAC repair. That’s why scheduling your advanced heating tune-up with a professional at Air Dynamics is critical to keeping your system running smoothly season after season.
Maintaining your HVAC unit will save you money by improving efficiency and reducing the likelihood of an unexpected breakdown
Heating systems are composed of sensitive equipment that require regular maintenance to ensure optimal performance and efficiency. This fall, prioritize your comfort by scheduling an Advanced Heating Tune-Up with Air Dynamics HVAC.
Find Out How You Can Save With our Air Dynamics Comfort Club Program
Remember To Adjust Your Thermostat
According to the US Department of Energy, the average homeowner can “save as much as 10% a year on heating and cooling by simply turning their thermostat back 7°-10°F for 8 hours a day from its normal setting.” For most Americans that means setting your thermostats at home temperature to around 78 degrees in the summer about 68 degrees in the winter.
You can save as much as 10% a year on heating and cooling by simply turning your thermostat back 7°-10°F for 8 hours a day
As the Fall season kicks off with cooler weather, consider adjusting your thermostat to a lower temperature especially when you are away from home. Keeping your thermostats closer to the temperature outside will help keep energy costs low.
Want to make things even easier? Consider upgrading to a smart thermostat that will automatically adjust the temperature for you.
Check For Drafts
As temperatures drop, you’ll want to keep all of your home’s heat inside, which means checking for drafts is all the more important. This Fall, be sure to inspect and repair any loose seals, weatherstripping, or ill-fitting windows and doors. This will ensure that your heat isn’t escaping to the outside, causing your system to waste more energy in an effort to keep you warm and cozy at home.
Seal up drafts with caulk, weatherstripping, or other materials offered at your local home improvement store
You work hard for your money! Don’t let drafty windows and doors drive up your monthly energy bill by stealing the heat away from your home. Make checking for and sealing drafts a regular part of your Fall HVAC maintenance checklist.
A Few Additional Things You Can Do
Okay, so you’ve raked the leaves, cleared away dirt, dust, and dander in the house, checked for drafts and scheduled your system for professional maintenance. Now what?
Turn on fans to give yourself and your system a little breather!
Give yourself and your system a little breather! If you have fans take advantage of nicer days by turning them on. This will help to circulate your air and save you additional money on your energy bill.
Upgrade to a Smart/Programmable Thermostat
Programmable thermostat installation is a simple upgrade that can have a positive impact on your energy bill.
In fact, smart thermostats are leading the next generation of temperature control by offering their users a ton of great new features. These new features enable your thermostat smarter control over your home’s temperature and climate. For added convenience, most smart thermostats will even allow users to adjust the temperature of their homes when they are away right through their smartphone!
With convenient features like Wifi compatibility, smart thermostats can do more now than ever before!
Part of our mission at Air Dynamics HVAC includes helping our local homeowners and families save more money each month. To find out just how much money you could be saving by upgrading to a smart thermostat today CLICK HERE to check out the Honeywell energy savings calculator.
As we mentioned, newer model smart thermostats such as the Honeywell Wi-Fi VisionPro are packed with some pretty impressive features while still offering a simple and user-friendly interface. With all that they have to offer, it’s no wonder homeowners like yourself are jumping on this simple solution to help to save $$$ on their energy bills each month.
