With the kids back in school and fall and winter holidays quickly approaching, now’s the perfect time to do some routine maintenance on your heating and cooling system.
Learn how to prepare your air conditioner for a long hibernation as well as tips for waking up your heating system without any problems. The last thing you want is to have your furnace break down in the middle of winter.
Heating and cooling accounts for around half (48%) of the total energy use in a typical home, easily making it the largest energy expense (U.S. DOE).
By putting a little effort into making sure your HVAC system is working properly, you will significantly reduce your HVAC system’s energy consumption. Make the switch from cooling to heating as smooth as possible. Below are some insightful tips on fall HVAC preventive maintenance.
Fall HVAC Preventive Maintenance Tips!
1) Consider Replacing Your HVAC System – You should consider the age of your heating system and your current energy bills before you do anything. Heating systems that are more than 10 years old are only 40-60 % efficient. If your HVAC system is on its last legs, seriously consider replacing the entire HVAC system. Today, gas furnaces available in the market boast of efficiency ratings that are as high as 97%. Learn why you should probably replace your cooling and heating systems at the same time.
2) Clean or Replace Air Filters – Dirty HVAC filters restrict airflow and reduce the entire efficiency of the HVAC system. If you have not cleaned or changed the air filters of your system for a while, now is the perfect time to do it. This should be done every 1-3 months.To be safe, inspect your air filter every 30 days to see if it is dirty and clogged. Check your owner’s manual for the best air filter to use in your system. Choose an air filter with a minimum MERV rating of 7. Make sure to have plenty of back-ups so you don’t have to run to the store every month or two.
3) Clean and Unblock All Vents and Registers– Go around your home and make sure all of your return and supply vents and registers are clean and clear. Double check that none of them are blocked by rugs, furniture, or closed off in any way. Learn why you should never close any of your vents and other common HVAC misconceptions. While you are checking to make sure nothing is blocking your vents, take some time to clean them of any dust that may have gathered around the area. Cleaning your vents helps prevent the dirt and dust from entering your HVAC system and circulating around your home.
4) Professional HVAC Inspection – Have you serviced your heating, ventilating and air-conditioning (HVAC) system for the Fall period? Whether you are a homeowner or a property manager, you will need to find a reliable HVAC professional to help you service your HVAC system. A well maintained and serviced HVAC system is highly efficient in both its functionality and energy consumption. A professional contractor should inspect your HVAC system at least twice a year, once in the fall for the heating system and once in the spring for the cooling system. The inspection is meant to detect any potential problems and ensure that the HVAC system is working as efficiently as possible. The HVAC inspection involves checking filters, inspecting electrical switches, belts, contacts, motors, safety switches, gas pressure, and refrigerant levels.
5) HVAC Maintenance Agreement – An HVAC maintenance agreement, such as our Maintenance Value Plan (MVP), is a great way to keep your system at peak performance. Having an HVAC maintenance agreement not only gives you the advantage of priority service in the event of system failure, but also ensures that your checkups are done on schedule. This agreement will help you save a lot of money in the long run.The demand for HVAC systems increases as winter approaches. Therefore, you should always have your system inspected by a licensed HVAC professional contractor! Let us know if we can be of assistance or answer any of your questions.
Gowland’s Heating & A/C values “Relationship over revenue!” Call us today to schedule your vital heating maintenance service in New Orleans and the surrounding area.