When the temperature starts to drop in the Amherst, NY region, it’s time to get your HVAC system ready to take on the upcoming winter months. With proper maintenance service, you can ensure that your HVAC system is operating at its peak efficiency level to keep your utility bills in check. There are various maintenance tasks that you’ll need to undertake to ensure that your HVAC system is ready.
Schedule Professional Service
One of the best things you can do to prepare your system for the upcoming cold months is to get professional HVAC maintenance. You want to plan an appointment in the early fall months to ensure that your system is ready before you need to rely on it every day. This process will alert you of any potential issues so that you can have them addressed in a timely fashion.
Inspecing Your Air Vents
If you have a forced-air HVAC system, then you’re going to have vents in each room of your home. You want to walk around and check each one of these vents to ensure that they’re in the open position. Additionally, you want to verify that the airflow for the vent is not obstructed by any items like plants or furniture.
Change Your Air Filter
The air filter for your HVAC system can directly affect its overall efficiency throughout the wintertime. To ensure that your heating system is working as efficiently as possible, it’s a smart idea to replace its air filter. Additionally, you’ll want to check the filter at least once a month throughout the winter months to see if it needs to be replaced. It’s always a good rule of thumb to have extra filters on hand.
Seal Up Air Leaks
One of the biggest efficiency killers for your heating system is going to be air gaps on your exterior walls. As your home settles into the ground, it can open air gaps around your doors and windows. These leaks can let unwanted cold air seep into your home, which causes your heating system to work overtime to combat that cold air. You should seal up any air gaps you find with caulking or a similar product.
Order Your Fuel
If you have a heating system that burns propane or heating oil, then you have a fuel storage tank at your home. You’ll want to call the fuel company and have that tank filled and ready. To ensure that you don’t run out of fuel over the wintertime, you can opt for setting up automatic delivery service.
Check Smoke Detectors and Carbon Monoxide Detectors
If you rely on a fuel-burning heating system, then it’s going to produce toxic fumes. While these nasty fumes are vented to the outdoors, a problem could develop where they end up accumulating inside. Since these exhaust fumes can be dangerous in confined spaces, you’ll want to have active carbon monoxide and smoke detectors. Now is the ideal time to ensure that every detector has fresh batteries and is properly tested.
Program Your Thermostat
As part of your fall HVAC system maintenance, you’ll want to check the program for your thermostat. Make sure that you switch it over to heating mode. If you want to optimize your energy usage, then opt for turning the thermostat down at times when you’re not going to be at home so that your system runs less off. If you don’t already have a smart thermostat, you should consider upgrading to one. Newer models give you the capacity to control your thermostat from your smartphone.
Test Run Your HVAC System
No fall HVAC maintenance checklist is complete without giving your heating system a test run. Be sure to set your thermostat to at least five degrees above the ambient room temperature. When you hear your HVAC system kick on, walk around to each supply vent to verify that hot air is coming out of it. Let it run for a few minutes to ensure that there are no lingering smells or weird sounds coming from your system. It’s common to notice a dusty smell for the first few minutes of runtime when your heat hasn’t been in use for many months.
Expert Heating Service
Heatwave Heating & Cooling offers expert heating service for the entire Amherst community and the surrounding areas. Our technicians can also assist with all your cooling, indoor air quality, air filtration, ductless mini-split, new construction HVAC, tankless water heater, generator, and air duct cleaning needs. Call us today to schedule your next service consultation with one of our highly experienced HVAC technicians.
