Your home’s heating and cooling system works hard year-round. From keeping your home heated to various temperatures during the winter months to changing things up entirely and keeping it cool when hot weather arrives, your HVAC system basically never gets much of a break. Centerville Heating & Cooling, located in Centerville, Ohio, offers these seven tips to help you keep your HVAC system working great when the seasons change:
Ways to Maintain Your HVAC System During Season Change in Centerville, Ohio
Replace Your Furnace Filter
This is a simple step that is very important to the performance of your furnace. Keeping a clean filter in your furnace is one of the most basic ways to make sure that your HVAC system will work efficiently. Throughout the cold weather months when your furnace is in use, check the furnace filter once a month and change it whenever necessary. The easiest way to remember this is to choose a day and mark your calendar to remind yourself to check the filter on that same day each month.
If You Have Pets, This is Important
If you have fur babies in your home, then you very likely have pet hair and dander floating around in the air. Choose special furnace filters that are designed specifically to trap pet fur and dander to keep it from circulating throughout your home.
Protect Your HVAC System’s Outdoor Component
Before turning your air conditioner on for this summer, make sure to clean all around the outdoor unit of your HVAC system. Clear away any branches, sticks, trash, etc., that has accumulated near the unit, and cut down any tall grass or weeds that have grown around it. Wipe down and clear away any debris that has become stuck in the grating of the unit, such as paper, leaves, etc.
Invest in a Weatherproof Cover
Protect your outdoor unit from the elements and keep it clean with a sturdy weatherproof cover. This will help keep the unit clean throughout the winter months when it is not in use. These covers can be found at hardware and home improvement stores as well as at many department stores.
Install a Programmable Thermostat in Your Home
A programmable thermostat will let you control the temperature in your home from anywhere. When the seasons change, some unexpected and often extreme changes in weather can also occur. A programmable thermostat will allow you to adjust the temperature setting in your home when these extreme changes occur and you are not there.
Keep Household Vents and Utility Fans Clean and Clog-Free
It’s easy to overlook components such as kitchen vents and bathroom fans. However, they can become clogged with airborne dirt and debris and ultimately cause problems for your HVAC system. If dirt is allowed to accumulate and remain in them from one season to the next, this can spell trouble. When the seasons change it is best to make sure that all of the components of your HVAC system are clean and ready to deliver their best performance.
Have Your HVAC System Tuned Up by a Professional
The best way to ensure that your HVAC system is ready for a new season is to have a comprehensive inspection and cleaning performed by a trained HVAC technician. At Centerville Heating & Cooling our technicians are waiting for your call. They will perform a complete inspection and thorough cleaning of your HVAC system, including ductwork and vents. The inspection will allow any problems or issues that could become problems in the future to be discovered and repaired right away.
Don’t Let Your Fuel Supply Get Low
If you let your HVAC system’s fuel tank get nearly or completely empty, this can cause damage to the tank and result in problems with your HVAC system. The best way to avoid this possibility and prevent any unpleasant surprises when the seasons change and it is time to crank up your furnace is to contact your fuel provider and set up a delivery schedule so that your tank will be automatically refilled at specific times. Your refill schedule will be based on several factors, such as:
- The size of your house
- The temperature you prefer to keep your home set to
- The size of your fuel tank
- Weather conditions
- Your location
By scheduling automatic refills, you won’t have to worry about the possibility of forgetting to order fuel.
Adjust Your Humidifier
During the winter months when your home is constantly being heated, the air can become extremely dry. Make sure the settings on your home’s humidifier are adjusted so that the atmosphere will be healthy and comfortable, and so that overly dry air will not affect your HVAC system. When it comes to home humidity, the setting that most people prefer is somewhere between 30% and 35% humidity.
Make Sure Your Home Has an Effective Humidifier
A whole-home humidifier actually works along with your HVAC system to provide healthy air quality and to eliminate damage to your home’s furnishings, wood flooring and trim, and even photographs. Dry air can cause cracking, tearing, splitting, and changes to the color and texture of these and other items.
Wrapping It Up: Final Thoughts on Maintaining Your HVAC System During Season Change
Your HVAC system requires just a little TLC on your part in order to continue working great from one season into the next. Change your furnace filter regularly. Protect the outdoor unit from the elements and keep the area surrounding it clean. Install a programmable thermostat in your house. Clean the utility fans and vents in your home regularly. Schedule automatic refills for your fuel tank. Set the humidifier in your home to a comfortable, healthy level. Schedule a professional inspection and cleaning for your HVAC system at least once a year.
For all your HVAC needs or with any questions you may have about keeping your system working great when the seasons change, give Centerville Heating & Cooling at 937-353-1169 or visit us online. We pride ourselves in providing only the very best HVAC service to our valued customers.
