Fall is the ideal time of year for HVAC maintenance. By getting your furnace tuned up before winter arrives, you’ll enter the heating season with complete confidence. Thanks to your efforts, you can expect lower heating costs, fewer unexpected breakdowns, safe and reliable performance, and a longer system lifespan. Here are six steps you can take to prepare your HVAC system for winter.
Retire the Air Conditioner
When you’re confident you’ve run your AC unit for the last time this season, you can safely retire it for fall. This merely entails switching the thermostat from “cool” to “heat” and placing a piece of plywood on the outdoor condensing unit to protect against falling snow and ice. (Weigh the plywood down with a stone or brick if necessary.) Avoid wrapping the unit in a tarp, which invites condensation and critters looking to escape the cold.
Check & Clean the Air Vents
Are your air registers dusty? If so, clean them using the brush attachment on your vacuum cleaner to improve airflow. Then, make sure all your registers are open and unblocked by furniture, rugs, or curtains.
Replace the Air Filter
The HVAC air filter traps particles that could land on and damage sensitive HVAC equipment. Over time, dust, hair, fibers, and other debris get caught in the filter. An overly clogged filter can restrict airflow, so to prevent overworking your furnace, remember to replace the filter at least once a year.
Prevent Furnace Fire Hazards
While you can count on your well-maintained furnace to operate safely, heating fires are more frequent in the winter. To prevent creating a fire hazard, don’t use your utility room as a storage area. Then, if you notice any strange odors or noises coming from your furnace, shut it off and call an HVAC technician for advice.
Test Your Smoke Alarms & CO Detectors
These safety devices make your family aware of fires or carbon monoxide leaks. To make sure they’re working properly, test your smoke alarms and CO detectors once a month. Remember to change the batteries yearly as well. Whatever you do, don’t remove the batteries from a chirping alarm or detector without replacing them!
Schedule Preventative Maintenance
While you can complete many fall HVAC maintenance steps yourself, you should also schedule a professional inspection once a year. After all, only an experienced HVAC technician can provide a thorough once-over, cleaning, and tune-up.
When you rely on Parley’s PPM Plumbing, Heating, & Cooling for the job, you can expect us to check the heat exchanger, adjust the gas pressure, inspect the blower motor and burners, check the flame sensor and thermocouple, and much more. Our goal is to catch and repair small problems early so they don’t lead to bigger problems later on.
To schedule a preventative tune-up or sign up for an HVAC maintenance plan, please call 801-877-2184 for Utah County customers and 801-877-2536 if you live in Draper. You can also contact us online with any questions you have.
