The summer is quickly approaching its end (at least on the calendar), and it’s time to prepare for fall, by doing some maintenance on your HVAC system. 

It’s essential to do this every year to make sure the system functions correctly in the fall and winter. More importantly, it matters for your energy bill, because heating amounts to 33% of the total energy consumption in an average household.

Clean Your Air Filters or Replace Them if Necessary

The most common culprit of HVAC system failures is the filter. With time and use, the filter builds up dirt and dust. This buildup restricts airflow and reduces the efficiency and capacity of your entire HVAC system. Lower capacity means higher energy bills. 

As a general rule 1″ wide filters should be checked and possibly replaced every single month. If your filter is wider (3″-4″) you may go up to 3 or even 6 months of usage before it needs to be replaced. Even with the larger filters, you should still be checking them every couple of months. It’s helpful to put a reminder in your calendar or phone. If you haven’t checked them all summer… our advice… stop reading this and go check them right now.

If you have washable filters, consider upgrading to better, pleated filters.

Clean and Unblock Vents

Similarly to filters, vents can get dirty and clogged. You need to go through your home to check and clean all of them. Naturally, you can’t do much for the inside, but you can certainly clean them on the outside, which can help more than you think.

Besides that, it’s vital to make sure that they are not blocked by furniture and other things in your home that can restrict the airflow through the vents. 

Prevent Fire

It might sound scary to those who haven’t experienced it, but heating equipment causes many fires throughout the country. It’s rarely serious, but it can be easily prevented by making sure you are doing everything right in regards to heating safety.

First of all, don’t leave anything combustible close to heating sources. Also, you should never plug space heaters into extension cords. Lastly, don’t leave space heaters unattended. These points don’t cover everything, but they are some of the most effective things you can do to prevent fire hazards. To find out more about what you can do to keep your home safe from fires, make sure to read up on some fire safety tips.

DIY Maintenance Tips

Here are some additional simple tips you can do on your own to prevent any problems during the fall and to make sure you don’t spend more money than is necessary:

• Seal leaks around doors, windows, and other openings.
• Make sure that your thermostat is working well and set to the proper function.
• Go around the home and make sure that no part of the HVAC system is making unusual noises. If you do hear something, it’s best to give us a call. 

Consider Replacing the Entire System

Sometimes, the entire system needs to be replaced, usually because it’s too old. 10-year-old HVAC systems lose up 40% of their efficiency, which is a significant difference. 

If your HVAC system is old and needs replacement, give us a call. We can provide you with a new and optimal system for your home after we do a thorough audit of what your home requires. 

Additionally, Frederick Air can help you with your maintenance needs. Our employees are professionally trained, so don’t hesitate to contact us to see how we can help you.