The winter months are heavy usage months for furnaces, especially in the Northeast and upper Midwest. Whether you have a standalone furnace or an HVAC unit that combines furnace and air conditioner, late summer and early fall are the best times of year to prepare your system for winter.
Winter doesn’t officially start until late December. But depending on where you live, you might find yourself turning on the furnace in October. That means preparations for winter weather should begin in late August or early September.
How can you prepare your HVAC system for the winter season? By doing these five things:
1. Schedule an Inspection and Tune-Up
So many homeowners dismiss the importance and value of an HVAC inspection and tune-up. Do not be one of them. Winter is peak season in terms of the work an HVAC system needs to do. And like a race car on a speedway, you want yours to be reliable and fully functioning.
Comfort Solutions is a Utah HVAC and plumbing contractor serving Sandy and West Haven. They explain that an inspection and tune-up should be comprehensive. The technician should be checking everything from burners and ignition systems to heat exchangers, blower motors, thermostats, and safety controls.
2. Clean or Change the Air Filter
Most modern HVAC systems utilize disposable air filters. You simply swap one out for another and you are done. However, there are systems that utilize reusable filters that need to be cleaned. In preparation for winter, address your filter a week or two before you plan to turn on the furnace. And during the winter season, consider cleaning or replacing every month.
3. Inspect and Clean Air Vents
Next, you’re going to want to inspect all your vents. They have a nasty habit of collecting dirt and debris during the summer months. Any dirt you notice should be addressed right away. Keeping vents clean will improve airflow and prevent dirt and debris from continually being circulated throughout your home.
If you can see dirt and debris just inside the vents, you should be able to remove vent covers by taking out a couple of screws. Then you can clean the ductwork as far as you can reach. If your ducts are extremely dirty, you may want to schedule a professional cleaning.
4. Test and Calibrate the Thermostat
Preparing for winter dictates testing and calibrating the thermostat. This task is especially important if you do not have central air. Without central air, your thermostat has likely been dormant for the last several months. It is a good idea to make sure it’s still in good working order.
No need to worry if you don’t know how to calibrate. The process is very simple, and there are plenty of online tutorials explaining exactly how to do it.
5. Address Clutter Around Vents and Registers
Finally, prepare for winter weather by addressing any clutter around your vents, registers, and cold air returns. Air should be able to flow freely from all of them. Make sure nothing is blocking them including furniture, plants, boxes, shelves, etc.
Free flowing air means your furnace is not working as hard to keep you warm. You will find that the HVAC unit is more effective and efficient.
Late summer and early fall are the ideal times for getting your HVAC unit ready for cold winter weather. Pre-winter maintenance requires a little effort, but the effort is worth it when temperatures start falling and you notice a chill in the air. Remember this: a properly functioning HVAC is one that will keep you comfortable all winter long.
