HVAC Preventive Maintenance Tips for Fall & Winter
Preventive maintenance is the best way to protect the investment that is your home. Staying ‘ahead of the game’ in terms of basic maintenance tasks is going to help you avoid larger repair bills later. The work that needs to be done your home is generally minor in nature, until a major problem pops up. Do your best to avoid those major problems by sticking with a regular schedule of maintenance work.
In terms of your HVAC system, fall and winter tend to be the most stressful times of the year. As the temperatures fall, your heating system is going to have to work overtime in order to keep the inside of your home comfortable. To make sure the system is up to the challenge ahead, please consider the tips listed below.
Check for Drafty Spots
This first tip doesn’t actually have anything to do with your heating system specifically, but rather it addresses a potential problem you may have in your home. If there are any notable drafty spots around your home – such as windows which aren’t doing a great job of keeping out the cold air – you will want to address those problems before winter settles in. Your heating system will have to work even harder than normal to keep the house warm if unwanted cold air is entering in large quantities.
Replace Your Air Filters
You want the air to flow freely through your heating and cooling system, but that is not going to happen if you have a dirty air filter in the way. Check on your air filters before winter and replace them if necessary. Look for any buildup of dirt or dust on the filter itself, and consider cleaning it off even if you don’t think it is due to be replaced. Since air filters tend to be rather inexpensive, it is best to simply replace them when in doubt. This is not a large financial investment and yet it can have a powerful impact on the efficiency of your system.
Check Vents as Well
The vents of your HVAC system should be checked periodically, just like your air filters. A dirty vent can lead to a number of problems, including spreading things like dust and even mold around your home. It shouldn’t take long to clean out your vents, and performing this simple task will go a long way toward promoting excellent air quality.
Make Sure Your Registers are Set Properly
You don’t want to waste any of the valuable warm air that is being produced by your heating and air conditioning system in the winter. To use your warm air effectively, open and close your registers as necessary to properly warm the right parts of the house. Again, this is a step which will only take a few minutes to complete, but it can have a powerful effect in the end.
Simply taking some time to check on the basics of your HVAC system will do wonders as winter rolls around. In addition to the steps you can take on your own, it is also a good idea to have a periodic inspection of the system performed by a professional. Such an inspection can help to make sure everything is in proper working order, and any minor problems can be quickly repaired.
