Tag: fall

HVAC Maintenance Tips for Fall: Preparing Your System for the Cooler Months

As autumn arrives and the days grow Cooler and shorter, it is essential to ensure that your HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) system is ready to transition from cooling to heating. Proper fall maintenance can help avoid unexpected breakdowns and ensure your system operates efficiently throughout the colder months. Here’s a comprehensive guide to preparing your HVAC system for fall.

  1. Schedule a Professional Inspection – Before the cold weather hits, scheduling a professional inspection and maintenance check for your HVAC system is a good idea. A certified technician can:
  • Inspect and Clean the Furnace: They’ll check for any issues, clean components, and ensure everything works.
  • Check Thermostat Calibration: Ensuring your thermostat is accurate can help maintain comfort and efficiency.
  • Inspect Ductwork: Look for leaks or obstructions affecting airflow and efficiency.

2. Change or Clean Air Filters – Dirty or clogged air filters can reduce the efficiency of your HVAC system and compromise indoor air quality. In fall:

    • Replace or Clean Filters: Depending on your filter type, either replace it with a new one or clean it according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
    • Check Filters Monthly: During the heating season, check the filters monthly and replace or clean them as needed.

    3. Test the Heating System – Before the cold weather sets in, it’s crucial to ensure your heating system is functioning correctly:

      • Turn On the Heater: Test the system by turning on the heat to ensure it starts up and heats your home adequately.
      • Listen for Unusual Noises: Any strange noises that could indicate a problem.

      4. Inspect and Clean Vents and Registers – Ensure that your vents and registers are clean and unobstructed to promote proper airflow:

        • Vacuum Vents: Dust and debris can accumulate in vents and registers. Use a vacuum to remove dust and debris.
        • Check for Blockages: Ensure furniture or other objects are not blocking the vents.

        5. Inspect the Heat Exchanger – The heat exchanger is a critical component of your furnace. A cracked heat exchanger can be dangerous due to the risk of carbon monoxide leaks:

          • Check for Cracks: Have a professional inspect the heat exchanger for any signs of damage or wear.

          6. Ensure Proper Ventilation – Proper ventilation is essential for indoor air quality and overall HVAC efficiency:

            • Check for Obstructions: Ensure that vents and outdoor air intakes are clear of obstructions like leaves, debris, or snow.
            • Maintain Good Airflow: Proper ventilation helps to balance the indoor air quality and efficiency of your system.

            7. Seal Drafts and Insulate – To improve your home’s energy efficiency and ensure your heating system doesn’t have to work harder than necessary:

              • Seal Drafts: Check windows and doors for drafts and seal any gaps with weatherstripping or caulk.
              • Insulate: Ensure that your home’s insulation is adequate to keep warm air in and cold air out.

              8. Program Your Thermostat – Adjusting your thermostat settings can save energy and reduce heating costs:

                • Set Up a Schedule: Program your thermostat to lower the temperature when you’re away or asleep and raise it when you’re home.
                • Use a Smart Thermostat: Consider upgrading to a smart thermostat to learn your schedule and adjust temperatures automatically.

                9. Clear the Area Around Your Furnace – Ensure that the area around your furnace is clean and free of clutter:

                  • Remove Obstructions: Keep items such as boxes, cleaning supplies, or other objects away from the furnace and vents.
                  • Ensure Proper Airflow: Adequate space around your furnace helps maintain proper airflow and reduces fire hazards.

                  10. Prepare for Emergencies – Having a plan in place for HVAC emergencies can save you time and stress:

                    • Know Your Emergency Contacts: Keep the contact information for Air Handlers, Inc. HVAC repair service handy.
                    • Have a Backup Heat Source: In case of a furnace failure, having an alternative heat source, such as a space heater, can be helpful.

                    Conclusion

                    Preparing your HVAC system for fall ensures comfort and efficiency during the colder months. By following these maintenance tips, you can help extend the life of your system, reduce the risk of breakdowns, and keep your home cozy throughout the fall and winter seasons. Regular maintenance and timely inspections can also lead to cost savings on energy bills and repairs. Call Air Handlers, Inc. and make an appointment to get your HVAC system ready, and you’ll enjoy a warmer, more comfortable home all season long.

                    Prepare for the Fall Season

                    Fall is just around the corner, and with it comes plummeting temperatures and other environmental changes. Staying warm during this time can be quite costly, but there are several tips that we can use to help keep our energy bills low and the cold outside.

                    More Ways to Stay Warm

                    There are more ways to keep warm than just running your heater. If your home has one, a fireplace or wood-burning stove can be a great way to keep the cold at bay without boosting your energy bill. If your home doesn’t have a fireplace or stove, you may have the option of having one installed. Installing a wood stove or fireplace may be expensive in the short term, but in the long term, it will save you significantly on your energy bills. Of course, we recommend that you always remain safe and alert when operating a fireplace, and if you are looking to have one installed, have a professional do it to minimize risk.

                    Keep Out the Breeze

                    Even the faintest of breezes can drastically affect the temperature of your home. A cold breeze can drop the temperature of a place by up to 30%, even if it just seems to be faint. Keep your windows and doors closed, use sealant to fill cracks or gaps, and cover up any other areas where air may be getting in or out.

                    Open Those Curtains

                    It may seem counter-intuitive to remove the insulating layer from your windows, but curtains block more than just light from the sun. Curtains that block sunlight also block its heat, and since the sun is a constant and effective heat source, keeping those curtains shut is preventing you from taking advantage of that free heat. Keep your curtains open when the sun is out and shining, and you’ll feel your house warm up as a result.

                    Cook a Hot Meal

                    While eating warm meals certainly helps keep the cold at bay, that part is actually secondary to this tip. By cooking nice, warm meals, you are using your stove and/or oven, which can help keep your house warm. It may not seem like much, but even just baking some cookies in the oven will have it running for long enough to help warm up your home, or at least the kitchen.

                    Fall Comfort Time!

                    Fall is here! That means pumpkins, color changes in nature, and cool weather. If you haven’t already completed your maintenance check for the colder days to come, it should definitely be something you do.

                    We have some other tips for staying warm and increasing your energy efficiency:

                    BLOCK THE BREEZE:
                    A cool breeze can drop the temperature of a place by 30%. Use a sealant to cover up cracks, and block crevices on doors and windows to prevent the cold breeze from coming in. It will also help to avoid heat from escaping your home.

                    INSULATE:
                    Insulating walls and the ceiling using Building Insulation Materials is the best way to trap heat inside. Since hot air rises, ceilings should be properly insulated to make sure it doesn’t get absorbed by the cold temperature outside. Heat lasts for more than 14 hours in an overly insulated room, whereas, it’s 8 hours in an average room with concrete walls.

                    SITTING BY CANDLELIGHT:
                    Add ambiance to your home with candlelight. It’s a cheap yet great source of heat. Cooking is another way to warm the air in your home.

                    LET THE SUN:
                    Sunlight is one of the greatest sources of heat and light energy. You get most of it during the day. Open your curtains or blinds and allow the warmth of the sun to heat your home. Remove any obstacles that block your windows such as plants or any other items.

                    REDECORATE YOUR HOME WITH RUGS AND CARPETS!
                    Cold air is heavier than warm air, thus sinking to the bottom. That is why concrete or porcelain floors are cold to walk on. Adding rugs and carpets act as insulation and prevent heat loss from the floor.