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The last thing any homeowner wants is a heating system failure during the holidays, especially while hosting family and friends. To ensure your home stays warm and comfortable, follow these essential steps to prepare your HVAC system for the season.
Fall HVAC Tune-Up
A fall tune-up is arguably the most important step you can take to avoid HVAC problems during the holidays. Routine maintenance helps to avoid the most common repairs. It ensures a comfortable and warm home. Tune-ups also help to improve energy efficiency, lower heating costs, and extend the life of your equipment.
Tune-ups involve a multipoint inspection specific to the type of heating system you have and the model. During that inspection, our technician will clean the equipment to remove dirt, grease, and microbial growth. We’ll correct wear and tear, such as lubricating moving parts and tightening connections. If a component is beginning to fail, we can recommend a proactive repair. This lets you fix the problem now rather than later when you have family over and need the heat.
Ductwork Maintenance
Issues with your ductwork can cause many HVAC problems. They can undermine comfort, drive up costs, and negatively affect indoor air quality. The industry recommends scheduling a duct camera inspection at least every two years. You can schedule that service alongside your fall tune-up, and our technician will be able to identify any duct problems.
One of the most common issues is excessive dust accumulation. It can lead to a home that doesn’t smell as nice as you’d like in addition to slow airflow. Air leakage can cause you to lose as much as 40% of your heating. Our technicians can correct those issues through duct repairs and duct sealing. Our team can insulate your ducts as well. Insulation can lower energy costs considerably if you have exposed ducts allowing for substantial heat transfer.
Home Energy Survey
The fall is also an excellent time to schedule a home energy survey. This is a process through which we assess the building envelope, HVAC system, and other aspects of your home. The average household can lose as much as 25% of its heating through a loose seal. A survey will also include an examination of your ductwork as discussed above. If necessary, our experts can explore adding insulation to your walls, attic, and foundation. We can also discuss sealing the home to eliminate drafts and other air leakage.
Regular Filter Changes
Make sure that you’re using a high-quality pleated HVAC filter. Also, consider the MERV rating of the filter you use. Many cheap filters on the market have a MERV 1-4 rating. Modern HVAC systems often support as high as MERV-13. At that level, your system is trapping at least 90% of allergens that would enter the system through the return vent.
Even in well-functioning systems, HVAC filters can clog quickly during the winter. This is especially true during holiday gatherings when there are many more people in the home. Don’t replace the filter on a set schedule. Instead, check it at least once a month or even more frequently. Swap it out as soon as you can see the dust accumulating on the filter surface.
Ventilation and a Humidifier
There are HVAC upgrades that can help you achieve smoother and more reliable comfort. A whole-house fan brings fresh air into a home to improve air quality. There are fans designed specifically for wintertime use, such as energy and heat recovery ventilators. You may also want to add a whole-home humidifier if you struggle to keep relative humidity at 40%. A humidifier will promote better health, ensure greater comfort, and let you turn the thermostat down several degrees.
Monitoring Your Outdoor Unit
If you have a heat pump or hybrid heating, your outdoor condenser unit will run throughout the winter. Check on it occasionally and remove leaves and other debris from the housing as needed.
Keep Your HVAC System Running Smooth This Holiday
Underwood AC has over 30 years of experience helping homeowners and property managers with their HVAC systems in Davenport, FL. Our technicians perform seasonal maintenance for all systems, including heat pumps, air conditioners, and ductless mini-splits. We install and repair those systems too.
Our company offers a membership plan through which you can save money while keeping your system serviced on schedule. We install, repair, seal, insulate, and clean ductwork. Our technicians also install and service in-duct air purifiers and ultraviolet lights. Call today or contact us online to schedule a service appointment or in-home consultation.