There are a number of notable concepts surrounding HVAC systems in homes or buildings, and one of these speaks to the seasons of the year. Specifically, there’s a curious interplay here: While the hottest and coldest parts of a given year (summer and winter) are the times where the HVAC system is utilized and needed most, it’s the other two seasons (fall and spring) where maintenance of these system is typically most vital.
At All Pro Appliance Service, we’re happy to supply appliance repair solutions to numerous appliances in your home — including things like furnace repair, AC maintenance and many other HVAC areas. As we enter the fall season within Salt Lake City and nearby areas, what are some of the key areas of AC and furnace maintenance that need to be carried out, either on your own or with the help of our HVAC technicians where needed? This two-part blog series will go over several.
Changing Thermostat Settings
The precise time where you choose to move your thermostat over from its primary cooling function to its primary heating function will vary for every home, as it depends on a number of individualized factors. However, in general you’ll want to make this switch at some point during the fall — and for many people, late September or early October is about right.
You might also want to consider changing your thermostat’s overall settings as well. In particular, if you have a programmable model, you’ll want to start setting it for somewhat cooler temperatures during the daytime hours, as this will help save on energy costs while still keeping things comfortable. Remember that you can always adjust these settings as needed later on if they don’t quite fit what you’re looking for.
Checking and Replacing Air Filters
To be clear, this is one area that’s important throughout the year and not just during the fall. However, it’s also an area where people often let things slide a bit too much, and as such it’s worth mentioning again here.
The air filter within your furnace is designed to help remove any harmful particles from the air that might get circulated through the system. Over time, these filters can become clogged with particles, which in turn can restrict air flow and cause other issues. As such, it’s important to check your filter(s) on a regular basis and replace them as needed — generally speaking, every one to three months should do the trick.
Windows and Weather Stripping
Temperature loss is always a concern during the fall and winter seasons, as heat within your home can easily escape through any cracks or openings that might exist. These days, many newer windows are designed to be fairly airtight, but that’s not always the case with older models.
In addition, even the best windows will still have some gaps around them where air can escape. This is where weather stripping comes in, as it can help to fill these gaps and make your windows more effective at insulating your home.
In part two of our series, we’ll look at a few more fall HVAC maintenance tips to keep in mind. In the meantime, if you need any assistance with furnace repair or AC maintenance in the Salt Lake City area, All Pro Appliance Service is here to help — so today!
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