Essential Fall HVAC Maintenance Checklist
Your Fall HVAC Maintenance Checklist
Everyone keeps going on about how important it is to do routine maintenance on your HVAC system, but what’s the big idea? When are you supposed to do it? While HVAC maintenance can be done a few times per year, it is recommended that you schedule one of these maintenance visits around the beginning of the fall season.
If you are still not sure, don’t worry! We’ll go over the importance of fall HVAC maintenance, some maintenance tasks you can do at home, maintenance tasks that an HVAC professional can do, and signs that your heating or cooling systems may need some professional maintenance.
Why Fall HVAC Maintenance is Crucial
While HVAC maintenance includes both your heating and cooling systems, fall maintenance focuses on preparing your home for the fall and winter seasons. As the temperatures get colder, it is important to make sure that your home’s furnace is in proper working order and ready to keep your home toasty.
Routine furnace maintenance can help prevent costly repairs, improve the efficiency of your HVAC system, and it can extend the lifespan of your unit as a whole.
Preparing for Colder Weather
As previously mentioned, making sure your home’s furnace is in tip-top shape is an important fall chore that can help you prepare for the colder months to come. Since your furnace has not been used throughout the summer, it’s a good idea to get it checked to make sure everything is in working order. Fall HVAC maintenance can not only improve the efficiency of your home’s heater, but it can also reduce the risk of a serious furnace breakdown in the dead of winter.
Fall HVAC Maintenance Tasks You Can Do Yourself
While an HVAC technician can do a more thorough maintenance service, there are a handful of fall HVAC maintenance tips that you can do at home to prepare your equipment for winter. These tasks can include replacing air filters, cleaning any debris from any outdoor units, cleaning vents and registers, and testing your thermostat.
Replace Air Filters
One of the first things you can do to get ready for the winter involves replacing the air filters in your HVAC system. These filters should be checked monthly and replaced once they start to get dirty, and the beginning of fall is a good time to check on them. Replacing your filters can improve the air quality in your home as well as your system’s energy efficiency.
Clear Debris from Outdoor Units
If you have an outdoor HVAC unit, you can take this time to clear off any debris you find on your unit such as leaves, dirt, and dust. This ensures proper airflow within the unit and can help to prevent overheating while maintaining your unit’s efficiency.
Clean Vents and Registers
While you have your broom and dustpan, you can also clean out the vents and registers throughout the inside of your home. Yes, this sounds like an awful lot of cleaning you have to do, but in the long run, it ensures proper airflow and prevents a buildup of dust in your unit that can affect your unit’s performance.
Test Your Thermostat
Lastly, you can check your thermostat in your home to make sure that it is working properly and reading the correct temperature. You can also start setting your home at an optimal temperature for the colder weather to maximize your energy savings.
Professional HVAC Maintenance Tasks
The previously mentioned chores can be done on your own time as you prepare for the winter. However, more thorough inspections and maintenance should be done by a professional HVAC technician in a scheduled fall maintenance check. These professional inspections can catch issues early and leave the more complex maintenance tasks to the experts.
Inspect and Clean the Furnace
One of the more crucial tasks a professional technician can do is a thorough inspection of your home’s HVAC system to make sure everything is in working order. This can include cleaning the burners, checking the heat exchanger, and making sure that everything is running efficiently and safely.
Check Electrical Connections
An HVAC technician can take a look at the electrical components of your HVAC system to prevent any malfunctions and make sure that your system is running safely with no potential issues.
Lubricate Moving Parts
Technicians are also equipped to work with the fine moving parts within your home’s system and lubricate any parts that may need it. This may seem like a basic task, but it can help your whole system work smoothly and prevent wear and tear by reducing friction.
Test the System’s Safety Features
Lastly, a professional technician can check the safety controls on your HVAC system to make sure they are working as they should in the event something happens. In addition, they can test the carbon monoxide detector to make sure it is reading correctly and keeping your family safe as it gets colder outside.
Signs Your HVAC System Needs Immediate Attention
While it is important to schedule your HVAC maintenance during the fall, issues may come up sooner and need immediate attention. Common signs that your HVAC system may need some professional attention include unusual noises, inconsistent temperatures, and higher energy bills.
Unusual Noises
Your heating and cooling system should be relatively quiet with a faint humming or whooshing of air. However, if you start to hear noises such as rattling, banging, or squealing, this could indicate a more serious issue with your system.
Inconsistent Temperatures
Your home should have a consistent temperature throughout, with each room feeling about the same. However, if you step into the living room and it suddenly feels like you are in a sauna, then your HVAC system could be struggling to maintain a consistent temperature. This could indicate a more serious problem and should be addressed immediately by an HVAC technician.
Higher Energy Bills
Your energy bills should fluctuate a bit month-to-month depending on the weather and what you set your thermostat to. However, if you notice an unexpected increase in your energy bill that seems to be out of nowhere, it could be that your system is working harder than it should be to maintain temperatures. The cause of this can vary, so it is important to get in touch with an HVAC technician and schedule a professional inspection.
FAQ’s for Fall HVAC Maintenance:
How Often Should I Schedule HVAC Maintenance?
While the exact number of maintenance appointments you should schedule varies depending on the state of your unit, the general rule of thumb is to schedule these visits twice a year. Typically they are done in the spring and the fall to keep your system in working order for both the summer and winter months.
Can I Perform Maintenance Myself?
There are a handful of maintenance tasks that you can do on your own, however, the big tasks such as safety inspections should be left to a professional technician.
What Are the Benefits of Professional HVAC Maintenance?
While HVAC maintenance may just seem like another chore to add to your growing list, hiring a professional allows you to get a thorough inspection of your unit to determine its current status. In addition, the professionals can make expert adjustments to your unit that can potentially save you money in the long run.
Schedule Your Fall HVAC Maintenance Today
When the leaves start falling, contact Semper Fi Heating & Cooling for all of your HVAC needs. Whether you need air conditioning maintenance or some work done on your furnace, our team of professionals is ready to serve our local community in the Metro Phoenix area. We offer you the peace of mind that your unit is in good hands and your home will be ready for whatever the winter has in store for you.
Easy Online Booking
Semper Fi Heating & Cooling strives to make the HVAC maintenance process as smooth as possible for our customers, which is why we offer easy online appointment booking options. You can also give us a call at (480) 608-9649.
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