When the winter rolls around, your HVAC system or heater will be among the most important appliances in your home. If this system has been properly maintained, it should be able to provide your home with a high heat output without wasting any energy. There’s also a lower risk that the system will malfunction and cause you to be without heat once the temperatures cool.
If you don’t maintain your heater or furnace for a lengthy period of time, it could become more expensive to operate. Your indoor air quality may also worsen. If you want to reduce the likelihood that your HVAC system malfunctions this winter, the following guide tells you which steps you should take to prepare your HVAC unit for the winter.
Why You Should Regularly Maintain Your HVAC System
No matter the age of your HVAC system, it’s highly recommended that you have it maintained on a regular basis. Doing so will allow the components inside to operate efficiently and smoothly, which is essential during the cold winter months when the system is placed under more stress.
Consistent maintenance also allows technicians to identify potential problems before they turn into costly repairs. Maintaining your system also gives you the opportunity to extend its lifespan by a considerable amount. A unit that isn’t maintained is more prone to malfunctions, which may eventually escalate and reduce the unit’s lifespan.
Another reason why maintaining your AC unit is essential is because a standard checkup can identify serious safety problems that might endanger anyone who lives in your home. For instance, the technician who arrives at your home can detect a short circuit that might cause a fire if not repaired.
How to Ready Your HVAC System for the Winter
There are several steps you should take to get your HVAC system ready for the upcoming winter season. Following these steps makes it much less likely that your system will fall into disrepair while the temperatures are at their coldest.
Check Your Thermostat
First, it’s highly recommended that you check your thermostat to determine if it’s functioning properly. When your system switches from cooling over to heating for the first time in six months or so, it might need to be altered slightly to ensure that it heats your home correctly. Once you’ve switched your thermostat to the heat setting, slowly increase the temperature to a point where it’s several degrees higher than the current temperature.
Listen to the system as the heat turns on. If it doesn’t do so shortly after you change the settings, consider looking at the wires near the furnace cover to ensure that they’re properly attached. Once the heat has been turned on, you can also check the heat pump, furnace fan, and blower to make sure that these essential components are working as intended. Testing your thermostat before the winter season begins makes it more likely that any issues will be addressed early on.
Change the Air Filter
Make sure to switch out any HVAC filters in your home once every month. When temperatures start to drop, it’s a good time to replace your filters again. You should also take steps to clean filters regularly to make sure that harmful particles don’t clog up the entire system. In the event that the filter is dirty, it may damage the unit, which would lead to costly repair work.
Take Steps to Protect the AC Condenser
Consider taking steps to protect the AC condenser. If you currently have a heat pump, this step can be ignored. On the other hand, any home that uses a furnace should adhere to the following guidelines. The condenser that’s positioned outside is highly susceptible to being damaged from falling branches or icicles.
You can protect the condenser by covering it with a wood board or trash can lid. Make sure, however, that you don’t cover any part of the unit with a basic tarp. Because tarps are typically made from plastic, moisture will likely build up and further damage your system.
Thoroughly Clean the Heat Exchanger
Each year, you should look into vacuuming and brushing your system’s heat exchanger. Our technicians at Du-West Services can also help you clean this component. This particular step is able to extend the life of your heater while also making sure that it runs smoothly for the foreseeable future.
Look for any possible cracks in the exchanger that might cause a carbon monoxide leak. Cleaning the exchanger makes it possible to identify these issues before colder temperatures move in.
Obtain a Furnace Inspection
Among the most important steps to take is to schedule a furnace or HVAC system inspection, which gives us the opportunity to identify possible damage or issues that could worsen in the future if they aren’t promptly corrected.
Our trained technician will search for signs of damage along the system coils and will also perform a visual inspection of the unit’s heat exchanger. The airflow and pressure within the system will be inspected as well.
Check All Vents in Your Home
You should dust and clean all of the registers and vents in your home before the temperatures drop too much. Clean vents make it easier for warm air to flow throughout your home. It’s also more likely that your heater will run at max efficiency.
If there are vents around the floor of your home, they should be exposed, which means that any blankets or furniture that may be covering the vents should be removed.
Test the System’s Igniter Switch
Make sure that the system’s igniter switch is checked. While older systems come with a pilot light, newer ones are outfitted with electronic igniters. If the igniter isn’t working, you should be able to press the reset button. In the event that the reset button doesn’t do anything, your breaker should be checked. If you’re still having issues, contact us immediately.
Hire a Professional to Perform Heater and Air Conditioner Maintenance
Maintaining your home’s heater or furnace is challenging if you don’t have the knowledge or expertise that’s required to identify issues and make the necessary repairs. If you’re unable to perform these tasks on your own, you should get in touch with our trusted Houston contractor.
Even if your system was inspected and maintained around six months ago, you should still have it looked at before the winter season begins. Our maintenance services can keep your system functioning at maximum efficiency by identifying issues that have been caused by stress or dust buildup. The most common issues that a professional technician can remedy include:
- Loose ductwork
- Dirty air filter
- Damaged blower motor bearings
- Blocked condensate drain
- Blower belt that’s loose
- Loose wiring harnesses
- Coolant that’s slowly leaking from system
The most effective method for keeping a furnace in peak condition is to inspect and maintain it before repairs are necessary. Once the colder weather sets in, HVAC technicians may be busy making costly repairs around your local service area, which is why it’s best to schedule an inspection before the temperatures have dropped too low.
Obtaining annual fall maintenance should save you money, time, and ample amounts of stress. If you want your HVAC system to be maintained or require a system installation, call Du-West Services today to set up a maintenance plan or get an estimate.
