Your Fall 2024 HVAC Maintenance Checklist

As the leaves begin to fall and the weather cools, it’s an ideal opportunity to prepare your HVAC system for the colder months. Regularly scheduled fall HVAC maintenance helps prevent unexpected breakdowns and keeps your home ready for the cold. Here are a few quick tips to keep your furnace in top shape this year.

1. Change the Air Filter Regularly

All your basic HVAC air filters capture dust, allergens, hair and other large particles, shielding your heating and cooling. New filters better preserve indoor air quality by capturing microscopic pollutants. Over time, the air filter becomes clogged, which limits air circulation and may overwork your furnace. To help put a stop to this, change the filter every one to three months.

2. Optimize Your Thermostat Settings

With the temperatures dropping soon, now’s the time to change your thermostat from the AC to the furnace or heater. Adjusting your thermostat settings for each season limits energy waste and maintains a complete sense of comfort. Here are several tips:

• Keep the temperature at 70 degrees or less for as long as you’re in the house.
• Further lower the temperature to around 62 degrees if you’re out or overnight. A smart thermostat can manage these day-to-day adjustments for you.
• Try your best to keep from overriding these efficiency-minded temperature settings. Instead, grab a blanket or sweater if you get cold.
• Should you still need to adjust the temperature, do so one degree at a time. Raising the heat to 80 degrees isn’t the shortcut some people hope it is.

3. Keep Ventilation Clean and Free of Debris

Every now and then, set aside some time to check all the air duct openings in your home. If these registers are clogged with dust, vacuum them with the brush nozzle to clear it off. Make sure that no return or supply vents are blocked by furniture, rugs or curtains to keep air flowing evenly.

Closing vents when you leave the room might seem like a good idea to reduce costs, but it can also create issues with airflow, increasing the strain on your system and—counterproductively—RAISING your energy costs. Keep at least 80% of your registers open to maintain efficient airflow.

4. Check Air Ducts and Seal up Any Leaks

Leaking air ducts let heating and cooling escape, contributing to higher energy costs. Surprisingly, duct tape is a poor solution for sealing leaks in the air ducts. For the best results, hire an HVAC professional to properly patch the leaks in your ventilation. The investment will cut energy bills, improve comfort and even boost indoor air quality.

5. Take Other Steps to Prevent Heating-Related Fires

A problem with your heating system is a major source of home fires. Stick to these guidelines to minimize the risk as much as possible:

• Keep flammable items at least three feet away from heat sources, especially space heaters, fireplaces, furnaces and water heaters.
• Never leave a running space heater unattended.
• Similarly, avoid using extension cords for space heaters.
• When your furnace makes odd sounds or has unusual smells, shut it off and call an HVAC professional.

6. Inspect the Furnace Flue

A clog in the flue pipe can cause dangerous backdrafting, which increases the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. Before you start your furnace this fall, inspect the exhaust outside to ensure it’s not obstructed by anything. If the flue is clogged, reach out to an HVAC Expert for help.

7. Clear Your Furnace Room

Your furnace requires ample room around where it’s installed to run safely. Don’t store any belongings within 10 to 15 feet of the unit. If your basement or utility closet is not large enough, try and leave it uncluttered apart from the HVAC equipment. Store flammable items like paint, cleaning supplies and aerosol sprays separate from your furnace.

8. Check Your Smoke Alarms and CO Detectors

These crucial safety devices notify the household of hazards like a fire or carbon monoxide poisoning. Test them on a monthly basis to verify they’re all working, and replace the batteries annually. Only take out the batteries if you’re ready to put new ones in.

9. Schedule Professional HVAC Maintenance

While it’s possible to take care of some of the fall HVAC maintenance tasks yourself, an experienced maintenance technician can complete full inspections, cleaning and other system maintenance tasks. Industry experts recommend professional AC maintenance every spring and furnace maintenance before winter.

Regularly scheduled HVAC maintenance keeps energy costs in check and ensures peak system efficiency. The time a technician has during an inspection to identify potential concerns before they become major problems also minimizes the chances you’d need a costly, last-minute fix.

10. Think About Replacing Your HVAC System

If your furnace passes the 10-year mark, it could be as low as 60% as efficient and approaching the end of its service life. Instead of allowing total system failure, consider replacing it now. A new, high-efficiency furnace is capable of AFUE ratings as high as 97%, providing energy savings right away and peace of mind for years to come.

Get Your HVAC Ready for Fall and Contact Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing today

If you prefer letting the professionals handle the items on this fall HVAC maintenance checklist, Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing gets the job done right. We are committed to providing fast, long-lasting solutions for all your HVAC service needs. To book your furnace tune-up, please contact us today.