According to one study, about 48% of all energy consumed in the United States was used to heat homes.
With fall coming up, you’re going to have to make sure that your HVAC system is working perfectly so that you don’t get stuck in a freezing cold house.
Here are a few things you can do to help ensure that it works all throughout the Ohio winter season!
Check Your Air Filters
The first thing that you should do is to check your air filters to make sure that they’re clean. If you have a dirty air filter, it could cause problems with your heating and cooling.
In order to prevent this, you should replace the filter before you shut it down. When it kicks back on, it’ll be ready to go. After you change it, you should make sure that you change it monthly to keep it clean and free of debris.
Not only that, but it will also help to ensure that all the air you’re breathing in is healthy and free from any dust, pollen, or germs.
Run Test on Your Systems
After you’ve changed your air filter, you might want to run some tests on the systems now while you still have time.
The easiest way that you can do this is just to set your heat to a few degrees higher than you normally would. This will make the heating system come on.
When it turns on, take note of how long it takes to raise the home to the temperature that you set on the thermostat. If it does this quickly and easily, you should be all set for fall. Do this a few times over the next week or so to make sure that it’s reliable.
Check the Outdoor Unit
The outdoor unit is also an important part of your HVAC system. Over the summer, some dirt, plants, or leaves might have fallen into the coils and somehow got into the unit.
You should make sure that you clear all those away, and give your unit a foot of space on each side to ensure nothing comes into contact with it.
Over the summer, you also might have gotten a lot of rainfall which can cause issues. The rain can soften the ground underneath your unit, causing it to wobble back and forth. If this is the case, you’ll probably need a professional to come out and look at it.
After you check for landscaping issues, you should also make sure it’s not damaged in any way. There might be dents in it or a broken blade of the fan, which means that you’ll need a repairman to come out and fix it.
Clean the Coils
You should also check the coils that are in your unit. During the summer, they probably collected a lot of dirt or debris from when you were mowing the lawn. Or they might have caught falls during the seasonal change.
Either way, the dirt in there will cause the unit to absorb more heat than is needed, which can cause the system to break eventually.
Make sure that you get rid of all the debris and then thoroughly clean the coils.
Check the Detectors and Alert Systems
Experts recommend that you change your smoke detectors out every ten years or so. If you aren’t sure when they were installed, you should be able to find the date on the actual detector.
If they’re up to date, press the test button on all the devices in your home to make sure that you’re working properly. That way if something does go wrong with the heater, you’ll be alerted immediately.
Seal Any Leaks
There’s no use in having a working heating system if all the heat is just going to escape from your house.
Instead, you should check around your house and make sure that all leaks and drafts are sealed so that you don’t waste any energy in your home.
Go around your home and make sure that you use weather-stripping and caulk to seal all your windows or doors. If you have a duct that’s leaking, you can use aluminum tape.
With these points sealed, you’ll ensure that your HVAC system won’t have to work overtime, which could end up breaking it.
Tuneup the Heating System
While your heating system might be working, it might not be super efficient, which can give you high electric bills during the cold Ohio winter. To help improve the energy efficiency of your heating and cooling system, make sure that you schedule a tuneup.
However, with a tuneup, you’ll have lower energy bills, peace of mind that it will work, more years out of your system, a lower probability of a breakdown, and an even flow of warmth throughout your home.
Schedule Routine Maintenance
Something you should be doing throughout the year is to schedule routine HVAC maintenance.
This way you’ll be able to spot issues before fall comes and won’t find yourself stuck in a situation where you can’t fix it in time.
Learn More About How to Get Your HVAC System Ready for Fall
These are only a few ways to get your HVAC system ready for fall, but there are many more tips to try as well!
When in doubt, make sure that you call a professional immediately. They’ll be able to diagnose the problem and also have the expertise to fix it so you have some warmth throughout the harsh summer months.
To book reliable professionals to help your HVAC system, make sure you contact us today!
