
The festive season is just around the corner and despite retail spending expected to take a dip this year, homeowners across the USA are busy preparing their houses for the festivities. In between putting up decorations and cooking up a storm, many people completely forget to check on their HVAC systems. This is a potential recipe for disaster as it’s during winter that heating systems work the hardest. Luckily, proper pre-winter maintenance can reduce the risk of a heating disaster considerably. Here are a few tips to keep your HVAC system in tip-top condition and your family and guests safe and warm.
Replace the Air Filter
One of the most important HVAC maintenance tasks to carry out as winter approaches involves replacing the air filter. It is virtually impossible for a dirty air filter to remove pollutants such as dust, mold, pet dander, and mites from the air, turning your home into an allergen hotspot. A dirty filter also limits the flow of air in and out of your home, putting immense strain on the whole system. When an HVAC system is under severe strain it may not able to maintain the desired temperatures which can leave you with a frosty home. Depending on the type of heating system in your home and how often the system is used, you ideally want to replace the air filter every 30 to 90 days to ensure optimal performance.
Schedule a Professional HVAC Maintenance Appointment
Even if your HVAC system seems to be behaving, it is definitely a good idea to conduct preventative maintenance before the festive season. If you are comfortable with your own abilities, you can carry out the maintenance yourself. You can also enlist the help of a professional service provider to perform the maintenance for you. Your HVAC system should undergo preventative maintenance at least twice a year with one appointment being scheduled at the end of fall or the beginning of winter. This is also a good time to have your water pipes checked out. Frozen pipes can cause extensive problems during winter but, thankfully, regular plumbing maintenance can help avert this problem and can also ensure your water heater is in tip-top shape.
Don’t Neglect Your Outdoor Unit
When performing maintenance on your heating system, don’t forget about the outdoor unit. Even though these units are generally sturdy and designed to withstand the elements, they do require care. When sand, twigs, leaves, other debris and even rodents enter the outdoor unit it can cause extensive damage and hinder the performance of your heating system. Make it a habit to check your outdoor unit every time you do maintenance on the indoor components and also after any extreme weather episodes. Also consider investing in a durable fitted cover for your outdoor units that will protect them from the elements, dirt, and rodents.
The festive season is right around the corner. Don’t forget to check on your HVAC system to avoid any unfortunate heating situations during the weeks to come.