As summer winds down in Milford, MA and fall approaches, it’s time for HVAC maintenance. At Tingley Home Services, we can assist with several steps on your fall HVAC maintenance checklist. This ensures your heating equipment is ready to keep you safe and comfortable throughout the cold weather season.
Changing Your Filters
The filter inside your furnace should be changed every one to three months. Doing so at the beginning of fall gets you ready and protects your indoor air quality. Pay attention to the filter you’re using. Most filters are rated using the minimum-efficiency reporting value scale, or MERV for short. This rating provides valuable information regarding how effective a filter will be at removing particulate matter from your indoor air. Most residential HVAC systems can handle a filter rated between 8 and 12 MERV. If you choose something with a higher rating in an attempt to boost indoor air quality, this can restrict airflow inside your system and cause strain or damage.
If you have any whole-home air purification equipment or humidity-controlling equipment, change or clean those filters as well. If you leave debris and particulate matter behind, it can negatively impact your indoor air quality and your equipment.
Switching Your Thermostat to the Heating Function
If you use air conditioning in the summer, you’ll need to switch to the heating function on your thermostat. If you don’t, your HVAC system doesn’t get the message that you’re looking to generate heat instead of cool air. You should also inspect the fan setting on your thermostat. It should be set to the “auto” function. Otherwise, the fan will run continuously, which is both unnecessary and bad for your system.
This is the perfect time to replace the batteries in your thermostat. This should be done yearly.
If we’re at your home for an annual HVAC inspection before the start of fall, we can inspect your thermostat. We’ll ensure that it is taking proper temperature readings (within one to two degrees). We can recalibrate and make repairs if necessary.
Consider upgrading your thermostat at the start of fall. Smart models provide excellent features that can save you both time and money. You can change settings remotely, review energy usage data, and use geolocation to automatically change your settings based on your location. There are often rebates and incentives available to offset the cost of this upgrade.
Routine Inspections and Maintenance
We recommend scheduling a routine HVAC inspection with maintenance at least once per year. The start of fall is a great time to do so, as we can ensure your heating system is ready to warm your home efficiently and reliably. Some homeowners choose to schedule another appointment at the start of the cooling season as well.
At this appointment, we will inspect important interior components, clean them, lubricate moving parts, check electrical connections, and inspect safety features. This appointment often allows us to spot minor issues before they become larger problems. We can usually make repairs on the spot. Larger problems may require a separate visit if we need to acquire parts and need more time for labor.
Checking for Sounds and Smells
We recommend that you test run your HVAC system prior to needing your heating function full-time. Listen to abnormal sounds, including grinding, screeching, and squeaking. You shouldn’t experience any bad smells coming from your vents and registers. It’s normal to experience a slight dusty smell coming from your vents for the first few minutes of runtime. This is caused by the buildup of dust and debris that occurs inside your furnace when it’s not in use all summer. This smell should go away within a few minutes. The smell of something burning or smoke coming from your vents indicates a serious problem. Turn off your HVAC system immediately and call us for assistance.
Winterizing Your AC Unit
Since you won’t be using your AC unit for many months, this is the time to prepare it for winter. Make sure that your outdoor condenser is free of debris. Trim back any grass, weeds, or landscaping nearby. This prevents damage over the long winter.
We can inspect your AC unit, ensuring refrigerant lines are free of leaks, electrical connections are intact, and drain lines are clear.
Most units shouldn’t be covered during the winter. This can trap moisture inside and cause corrosion. Corrosion can prematurely wear down interior components, resulting in a shorter system lifespan.
Inspect and Clean Vents and Registers
Ensure that you have ample clearance around your vents and registers to promote airflow. You should also wipe down these areas to protect your indoor air quality.
Consider a Ductwork Inspection and Cleaning
While not part of routine HVAC maintenance, we recommend that you have your ductwork inspected every few years. If there is any damage present, like cracks or holes, this can allow conditioned air to escape. This air loss will raise your energy bills as your equipment runs more frequently to keep up with your temperature demands.
You should also have your ductwork cleaned every three to five years. If you or someone in your home suffers from allergies or asthma, maintain a more frequent schedule. This process removes particulate matter that has built up inside your ductwork. This prevents it from circulating through your indoor air and causing health problems.
Check Carbon Monoxide Detectors
The carbon monoxide detectors in your home typically have a life span of about seven years. If this time frame has come and gone, it’s time to replace your detectors before using your heating system this fall. You should replace the batteries in this unit every year as well to prevent a lack of CO detection. Press the test button on the unit to ensure that it works. This simple maintenance step can protect your safety if something within your HVAC system malfunctions.
Check for Gaps, Cracks, and Sufficient Insulation
Having a well-insulated home can help you maintain a more comfortable interior. It can also help you save money on your monthly utility bills. Schedule an inspection of your insulation and consider upgrades. This is another instance where tax rebates and incentives may be available to help pay for the upgrade.
You should also go around the exterior of your home and look for the presence of gaps and cracks. Check inside your attic, basement, and around windows and doors. These areas should be sealed using products like expanding spray foam, caulk, and weatherstripping. This prevents heat loss and keeps pests from coming inside to escape the harsh winter weather conditions.
Tingley Home Services is available to assist with your annual HVAC maintenance before the start of fall. We can inspect your HVAC system, make necessary repairs, and clean interior components. If it’s time to invest in a new furnace or air conditioner, we can complete the installation. Reach out to our team here at Tingley Home Services in Milford to schedule an appointment today.