It’s finally fall! The leaves are changing, and homeowners are switching from the A/C setting to the heat setting on their HVAC units. What should you be doing now to prepare your HVAC system for Old Man Winter? You partner with Heating Specialties, of course, to make sure your South Jersey home stays comfortable when the cold hits.
Prepping for the cold means more than turning off the A/C. A little bit of HVAC maintenance work now can pay you back with better HVAC reliability and a potentially longer lifespan for your unit. Read on to find out what fall maintenance tasks should be on your checklist this October.
Clean around your outdoor unit
Head outside to do a thorough cleaning of your HVAC unit. Prune any overgrown shrubbery and clear away the sticks and leaves that have accumulated around the unit. Remember, anything you leave behind risks interfering with the HVAC unit.
Replace your dirty air filter
Your air filter has worked hard all summer to catch the pollen and other debris that is coming in from outside. Ideally, you should be replacing the filter according to the manufacturer’s recommended schedule. But if you missed a month, or it’s been a while since you peeked at the filter, fall is a good time to start fresh. A clean air filter gives your whole HVAC system a break because it doesn’t have to work as hard to draw in air. Everyone could use a little less stress on their systems, including your home’s HVAC unit!
Make sure your ducts are clean
Lots of scary stuff can be hiding out in your ductwork. Even if you’re a fright fanatic, your home’s ductwork doesn’t need to be part of your Halloween celebration. Although Heating Specialties doesn’t provide duct cleaning services, give us a call, and we’ll recommend the best way to get rid of the dust, debris, mold, mildew, and occasional critter that likes to set up camp in your ductwork. At the very least, remove your vent covers and use your vacuum attachment to grab the gross stuff that’s within reach. While you’re at it, make sure your furniture isn’t sitting in front of your air vents. You’ll enjoy more warmth when the airflow is unimpeded.
Consider a humidifier
As summer moves on, it takes the moist air with it. Consequently, homeowners in South Jersey may notice more respiratory irritation due to the drier inside air. Dry air can even affect your wood floors, paint, and plaster. A whole-house humidifier may bring you the comfort you seek this winter.
Change your carbon monoxide detector batteries
Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas that can build up in your home and become dangerous. Certain HVAC issues, like a cracked heat exchanger, faulty water heater, gas fireplace, or gas oven can create a carbon monoxide poisoning hazard. Fall is a good time to make sure your home’s carbon monoxide detectors are working correctly and have a fresh set of batteries.
Schedule your fall tune-up with Heating Specialties
Fall maintenance plays an important role in your HVAC system’s health. Our professional HVAC technicians at Heating Specialties can perform a thorough inspection of your system to identify any potential problems that stand between you and your warm home this winter. We’ll also clean the drain lines and pans around your A/C unit, to prevent mold and mildew damage over the winter. Biannual tune-ups – one in the fall and one in the spring – are a top strategy for keeping your HVAC system healthy. Don’t skip this important fall chore.
You want to be comfortable in your South Jersey home this winter. Schedule your fall tune-up with Heating Specialties by calling us at (866) 923-2653 to reach out online. Heating Specialties has more than 30 years of experience in HVAC, and we’ll be with you as the temperatures drop and winter takes over. You can count on us.