The days are slowly getting shorter and the nights and mornings are cooler. This is a sign to ensure that your heating system is prepared for the winter months and to switch your HVAC system over to heat instead of cool.
Heating systems typically don’t require a lot of work by homeowners, but a little upkeep throughout the year such as changing the filter, goes a long way to the life of your furnace. The most important thing you can do for your HVAC equipment each fall is to schedule your preventative maintenance from a professional. However, there are some other maintenance tasks you can complete to extend the lifespan of your equipment and save money in the long run.
The below furnace maintenance checklist will help you to ensure your HVAC equipment is in the best shape possible before the winter months hit.
Change Your Filter
Replacing your furnace filter is a simple, easy maintenance task; however, remembering to change your filter on a consistent basis may be a little more difficult. It’s a good idea to buy your filters in bulk, so you have extra on hand when you need to change them and seeing the filters may remind you to change the air filter more often. In fact, just by regularly changing your filter you will save on your heating bills and increase the lifespan of your furnace.
So, how often should you change your filter? Ideally, you should change your filter every 2-3 months. But, it depends on the filter you have and other common variables such as: if you have pets and if you have someone in your home that suffers from allergies. If either of these are true, you may want to change your filter more often. Learn more about the major consequences of not changing your filter here. And remember, one of the biggest sources of a system failure or complication is due to a clogged and dirty filter.
Turn Your Heat On
Before the cold weather arrives, make sure you switch your thermostat over from cooling to heating. To turn the heating on, turn the temperature a little higher than your current home temperature and listen to hear if the heating system kicks on within a couple minutes. If your furnace doesn’t turn on, check to make sure the connections are secure and the main power source to the unit is turned on. If that still doesn’t work, call a professional HVAC technician to come out to your home and diagnose the issue.
Winterize Your Air Conditioning Unit
Protecting your equipment from the winter elements is very important. It will help you to save on costly repairs later in the year. It’s recommended that you cover the air conditioner condenser to protect it from winter weather, unless you have a heat pump.
Reverse Your Ceiling Fans
Ceiling fans are perfect for circulating air in your home throughout all seasons. However, by switching your fan to run in a clockwise direction it will help to force warmer air down and cooler air up. Fans help to keep the temperature consistent throughout the day and reduces the need for a furnace to run constantly.
Schedule an HVAC Tune-Up
Yearly furnace tune-ups are a vital part in maintaining your equipment and making sure your unit is ready for winter. Our professionals here at CW Suter Services provide a 22 point system inspection to check everything from your thermostat working properly to your chimney for restrictions.
For a full list of the maintenance provided and the benefits that come with being a maintenance customer click here. Some of the benefits include: 30 day labor warranty on repairs, 10% discount on parts and labor, and priority 24/7 service. So, if your furnace breaks down during the coldest time of the year you can count on us to get your furnace up and running so your family is warm and comfortable. We have service that suits you 24/7! Contact us today by calling 712-252-3007 or filling out this form online.