HVAC Maintenance Tips for Fall
Autumn weather will soon arrive in Windsor, ON, and the surrounding communities. You’ll be transitioning from air conditioning to heating by the end of the autumn season. Now is an ideal time to make sure your home’s heating and cooling system is ready for fall. Use these five maintenance tips to boost your comfort and save money.
1. Replace the Air Filter
One of the fastest yet most important maintenance tasks for you to perform on your heating and cooling system is replacing the air filter. The tiny pores in the air filter capture dust and other particles. After about one month of daily use, those pores become full. The clogged filter hinders airflow and makes your heating and cooling system cycle more frequently. Replacing a dirty air filter with a clean one could lower your home’s energy use for heating or cooling by up to 15%. Our technicians can show you how to replace the filter during a tune-up visit.
2. Clean the Vents and Ducts
The dust and debris that aren’t captured by the air filter often settle onto the surfaces of your home’s air ducts and vents. Over the months, they build up, creating a thick layer. This buildup impedes the flow of air into your home’s living spaces. If you barely feel a trickle of air coming out of the vent during a heating or cooling cycle, dirty ducts or vents could be to blame. You can clean the vents and ducts in just a few minutes during your weekly house cleaning chores. Use a screwdriver to remove the vent covers. Wipe the covers with a damp microfiber cloth dipped into warm, soapy water. Use another cloth to dry the covers. With your vacuum’s extension hose, suck the dust and debris out of the vent opening. You may also want to arrange for professional air duct cleaning every one to three years.
3. Clear Debris From the Outdoor Unit
Over the summer, debris may have accumulated around the outdoor unit. Shrubs, flowers, grass, weeds and tree branches may have grown close to the unit. The outdoor unit needs at least a meter of clearance on all sides and above it. This clearance facilitates heat exchange with the outdoors. Use your mower to cut back grass. Trim tree branches or shrubs away from the unit. Rake debris that has settled under the unit. At the circuit breaker, cut power to the heating and cooling system. Use your garden hose to rinse the outdoor unit’s housing.
4. Check Batteries in Carbon Monoxide and Smoke Detectors
Furnaces burn fuel in order to heat your home. Part of the combustion process involves waste products that are ventilated to the outdoors through the flue. Your home should have a carbon monoxide detector and smoke detector on every level. If there’s a problem with the burning of fuel or ventilation of combustion byproducts, deadly carbon monoxide gas could seep into your home and cause serious illness for people and pets. While many carbon monoxide and smoke detectors are hard-wired, they should also have a battery backup. Check these detectors monthly. Replace the batteries every six months.
5. Schedule a Maintenance Visit
Our experienced technicians at Guaranteed Comfort Heating & Cooling offer convenient appointment times for HVAC tune-ups in Windsor and the nearby communities. Professional maintenance during the autumn prepares your heating system for winter weather. During a maintenance visit, we check for signs of excess wear and tear. We fully clean the system so that it can operate at its peak level of energy efficiency. Our technicians clean condensate lines for heat pumps and check furnace burners and heat exchangers. We also inspect all sensors, valves and switches. If we identify any problems, this gives us plenty of time to fix the issue before wintry weather arrives. Keeping up with maintenance for your HVAC system reduces the risk of a breakdown, avoids excessive wear and tear and ensures that the manufacturer’s warranty terms are validated.
At Guaranteed Comfort Heating & Cooling, we’re ready to perform HVAC maintenance in Windsor and the surrounding areas. You can also turn to us for affordable furnace, heat pump and air conditioning installation, replacement and repair services. Our NATE-certified technicians even work with air purifiers, tankless water heaters, heat recovery ventilation, gas lines, UV lights, ductless mini-split systems and HEPA filters. To learn more or schedule a service, call us at Guaranteed Comfort Heating & Cooling today.