Preparing Your Furnace and HVAC System for Fall

Fall is upon us as September is well underway, and as Utahns well know, this means the cold winter season is just around the corner. This means a few things for homeowners, including that it’s time to ensure your furnace and entire HVAC system are prepared for the changing temperatures ahead.

At Expert Services- Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electrical, we’re proud to provide a variety of heating and air services, including a wide range of fall maintenance and upkeep areas for your furnace, air conditioner and the entirety of your system. Between our handy, affordable services and some steps you may take on your own within the home, here are several areas to keep in mind when it comes to fall HVAC maintenance.

End-of-Season AC Upkeep

For starters, especially if you neglected springtime air conditioner service, it’s a good call to have our professional HVAC technicians inspect and preop your AC unit before the winter. We’ll look at all your basic connections and air flow areas, plus ensure you have no leaks or potential formations of mold or mildew that could worsen during the winter.

Clear AC Area

Down similar lines, we highly recommend assessing the area around the outdoor AC unit and removing any weeds, foliage or other debris that may have built up during the summer. You should also clip any high grass or shrubs that are nearby.

Why? Well, for a couple reasons. Firstly, many pest or ant types will begin searching for this kind of debris as shelter as the weather turns, and if they find it they might nest in the area for the entire winter. Secondly, this debris could be a fire hazard during the warmer days in fall when you are still using the air conditioner, so clearing the area keeps everyone safe.

Filter Changes

Once you’ve addressed the AC unit, give the entire HVAC system a breath of fresh air, so to speak, by changing the filter (or filters) headed into winter. This ensures you have clean, filtered air that’s not straining the system as you switch to heat.

Thermostat Updates

Now is also generally a good time of year to consider changing thermostat settings. From cooler temperatures at night to the potential for kids leaving the home during the day and returning to school, there might be a whole host of areas you can change – both to keep occupants comfortable and to save costs on heating when no one is in the home.

Professional Evaluations and Tune-Ups

Finally, the fall is the perfect time of year to bring in our pros for an affordable inspection and tune-up of your furnace and overall HVAC system. We can evaluate everything from whether your system is operating at peak capacity to whether small components need a quick tune-up, helping you get maximum efficiency and value from your system. We also catch numerous minor issues when they’re still small, easily fixable problems, rather than allowing them to devolve into serious, high-cost repairs later down the line.

For more on fall heating and air tune-ups, or to learn about any of our HVAC or pluming services, speak to the staff at Expert Services- Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electrical today.