Your HVAC System Will Benefit from Seasonal Maintenance Every Fall

While summer is still hanging around, your home’s heating system probably isn’t front of mind. But it’s not too early to think about the upcoming transition from summer to fall, especially how it pertains to your home’s central heating and cooling system. The fall season is an ideal time to schedule professional maintenance on the heating component of your home HVAC system, as well as put your cooling system to bed for the year. Seasonal maintenance will help ensure optimal performance and energy efficiency for the coming heating season, and will head off any minor heating system maintenance issues before they develop into significant headaches.

Fall Maintenance Tasks for Your HVAC System

Some of these heating system maintenance tasks you can do yourself while others should be left to your trusted professional HVAC technician. (When in doubt, use the pro. We’re happy to help.)

• Inspect the air filter that works with your forced-air heating and cooling system. If it has been filtering the air in your cooling system all summer, it probably needs to be replaced or cleaned. (These filters should probably be changed roughly every 3 months, so if it hasn’t been done all summer, definitely do it now.) Most homes use the gas furnace blower as the blower/air handler for their cooling system, too, so the same home air filter that’s working with cooling will also be working with your heating system. During heavy-use seasons – summer and winter – inspect the filter each month and change it when it looks dirty or clogged. A clogged air filter will restrict airflow, eroding both energy efficiency and performance, and eventually causing the system to shut off altogether.
• If you use a heat pump for home heating, the heat-exchange coils, both inside and outside, should be cleaned on an as-needed basis. This is probably best left to a professional during their fall maintenance tune-up, though if you’re a committed DIY-er, you can take on this chore if you’re careful not to cause damage to the equipment. Dust and grit can accumulate on the coils, compromising the transfer of heat energy to and from the coils. Without effective transfer of heat, the heat pump can’t provide satisfactory heating or cooling. Over time, if the coils are not cleaned, breakdowns and/or refrigerant leaks may eventually occur.
• Once you’re sure that you no longer will be using the AC for the year – and if you’re not using a heat pump for heat – you can go ahead and cover your AC’s outside condenser/compressor unit for the winter, to protect it from the elements. You can purchase a dedicated cover or do something as simple as laying a plywood board across the top of the unit. If you choose to employ a makeshift cover that envelops the whole unit, it should allow a small amount of airflow, to avoid moisture from getting trapped in the equipment for an extended period.

Schedule a Fall Tune-Up on Your HVAC System

Nothing will keep your home’s HVAC system running as smoothly and efficiently as a fall maintenance visit from your trusted, local HVAC contractor. During this visit, the technician will undertake a long list of maintenance tasks to make sure your equipment is ready to operate at optimum performance and energy efficiency through the winter months and will take care of any necessary furnace repair. Most importantly, the technician will inspect your heating equipment for any safety issues and then correct any that he finds. This is especially crucial with gas- or oil-burning furnaces.

During an expanded maintenance tune-up, the technician may also inspect your home’s ductwork system, to make sure it’s not in disrepair. Your heating and cooling equipment can be working perfectly but that won’t matter if the ducts aren’t delivering conditioned air efficiently.

Having your home’s HVAC system maintained is like having the oil changed in your car – it’s what prevents the components from breaking down at the worst possible moment and allows small issues to be addressed before they become big headaches. If you’re here in Cincinnati, call us here at Jansen Heating & Cooling to set up your maintenance appointment or to ask us about our Maintenance Club, featuring reminders for regular service, discounts on new equipment, and priority appointment scheduling.