Have you ever thought about how much your HVAC system goes through to keep your home warm in the winter and cool in the summer? Changing things up completely from one season to the next is a lot of work. You can help keep your HVAC system in great condition from season to season and year to year by following these seven tips from Canal Winchester Heating & Cooling, located in Canal Winchester, Ohio:
Ways to Maintain our HVAC System During Season Change in Canal Winchester, Ohio
Keep a Clean Air Filter in Your Furnace
Maintaining your furnace means checking the air filter once every 30 days and replacing it when it is dirty. It is the most important thing you can do to help your furnace perform at its very best. Mark your calendar or set a reminder for yourself on your phone to check the air filter each month on the same day. At the end of cold weather season when you turn your furnace off, change the air filter then as well.
For Homes with Pets
If your family includes some four-legged members, it is highly recommended that you use air filters in your furnace that are specially designed to catch and trap pet dander and hair to keep it from circulating in the air throughout your home.
Take Care of Your HVAC System’s Outdoor Unit
Before turning on your air conditioner at the beginning of the warm-weather season, clean the outdoor component and the surrounding area. Remove any trash, branches, sticks, and other debris and pull weeds and cut down high grass that has grown around it. If paper, leaves, or other debris has become stuck in the grating, remove it as well.
Use a Protective Covering
Keep the outdoor component clean with a good quality weatherproof cover. This will also protect it from damage by weather and outdoor elements. These covers can be found in home improvement and most hardware stores as well as in many department stores.
Upgrade Your Home with a Programmable Thermostat
If you are away from home and the weather takes an unpredictable turn, as can easily happen as the seasons are in the process of changing, you will be able to adjust the temperature from anywhere with a programmable thermostat. No more returning home to a cold house because Mother Nature decided on a surprise temperature drop while you were away!
Utility Fans and Vents Must Be Maintained
Keeping the utility fans and vents in your home clean and free of clog-inducing debris is important. As the seasons change, these components will be used either more or less frequently, depending on the time of year. If they sit unused for any length of time, dust and other pollutants can build up and find their way into your HVAC system. By cleaning them on a regular basis, this will not turn into a problem for your heating and cooling system.
Contact Canal Winchester Heating & Cooling for a Professional Inspection and Cleaning
If you live in Canal Winchester, Ohio, or the surrounding area, contact us to have one of our licensed HVAC technicians perform a complete inspection and cleaning of your entire HVAC system. An inspection will reveal any issues that could become bigger problems later on and allow our technician to perform preventive maintenance right away. A professional cleaning will include all ductwork and events to ensure that the air in your home will remain clean and pollutant-free as one season transitions into the next.
Fill Your Heating Fuel Tank
If you let your heating fuel tank run too low or become completely empty, this can result in damage to the tank itself and cause issues with your HVAC system. Set up a schedule with your fuel supplier to have your tank refilled automatically. Your fuel supplier will create a schedule for you based on factors such as:
- The size of your fuel tank
- The size of your house
- The temperature you prefer to keep your home heated to
- The weather
- Your location
Scheduling refills and keeping a proper amount of fuel in the tank will help to protect your HVAC system and keep it running smoothly.
Maintain Proper Humidity Levels in the Air
While your furnace is keeping your home warm with heated air throughout the winter, it is important that you take steps to maintain the proper level of humidity in the air, which can be extremely dry. Adjust your home humidifier’s setting so that your home’s atmosphere and your family will be comfortable. Most people are comfortable with a humidity level of 30% to 35%.
Invest in a Whole-Home Humidifier
A whole-home humidifier protects your home and your HVAC system by improving air quality and preventing damage to furniture, wood flooring/trim, appliances, etc., that can experience cracking, splitting, tearing, and discoloration when exposed to extremely dry air over extended periods of time.
Wrapping It Up: Final Thoughts on Maintaining Your HVAC System During Season Change
Help your home’s heating and cooling system perform its best by following these easy suggestions. Replace your furnace filter monthly during the cold-weather season. Cover the outdoor component of your HVAC unit with a good quality weatherproof cover. Install a programmable thermostat in your home. Regularly clean utility fans and vents in your kitchen, bathroom, etc. Keep your heating fuel tank filled. Have an HVAC technician perform an inspection and cleaning of your heating and cooling system at least once per year.
If you have any questions or need help with your HVAC system, contact Canal Winchester Heating & Cooling at 614-524-4737 or visit us online. We take pride in providing our valued customers with the very best service in the HVAC industry.
