Fall HVAC Maintenance Tips

During those cold autumn nights, your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system becomes the most valuable commodity in your home. But if it’s running poorly, that means less comfort and higher energy bills for homeowners. Heating your home and producing hot water are generally the largest energy expenses for any homeowner, so you can ensure your home heating bill remains as reasonable as possible by supporting your HVAC system and keeping it running properly.

Complete these tips in the fall to help your HVAC system operate efficiently throughout the fall and winter season. This way, you can save money to be enjoyed in other ways during the holiday season.

Change the Air Filter and Clean the Vents

Changing the air filter every month is one of the most important things you can do to support your HVAC system. It’s also one of the easiest. The filter should be checked every month and replaced if it is dirty. Filters should be replaced at the very least every three months – no matter what. Keep up with this simple project by choosing a regular day to check the filter, such as the first or last day of the month.

The same day the filter is replaced is also a good time to travel around the home and vacuum off the air vents. This keeps them clean and allows warm air to flow freely, easing temperature regulation throughout the home.

Have It Inspected

Consistent HVAC maintenance is the only way to ensure an energy-efficient heating and cooling system. Join Interstate’s Maintenance Club, or simply call for a free estimate on regular maintenance and tune-ups. Don’t wait until it’s too late to give your system the TLC it needs and deserves.

If Your HVAC System is Ancient, Replace It

Replacing the home’s HVAC system is an expensive proposition, but if your system is old and inefficient, the added comfort and financial benefits of a new system can be very real. If your system is more than 10 years old, you should ask one of our service technician’s opinion on the longevity of your system. Replacing it with an Energy Star model could reduce your home’s annual energy bill by as much as 30 percent, per EnergyStar.gov.

Sufficiently Insulate the Attic

One of the easiest ways to help your HVAC system operate at peak performance is to lighten its load. Insulating the home’s attic keeps warm air in the home and prevents it from escaping outside. This allows your HVAC system to do less and still maintain the home’s proper temperature. Per EnergyStar.gov, a simple visual test will determine whether the home’s attic is sufficiently insulated. According to their recommendation, insulation in the attic should be high enough to obstruct the view of the floor joists. If this is the case, additional insulation will offer little to no benefit.

Install a Programmable Thermostat

The right temperature inside a home depends largely on who is there at the time, and when no one is in the home, the right temperature can be significantly lower than a conventional “living area” temperature. Many homeowners however fail to adjust their thermostats when they leave their home because it’s too much work, they forget, or they don’t want to return to a cold home.

Installing a programmable thermostat in the house eliminates these concerns altogether. This technology allows you to set the temperature in your home for every hour of the day, and it will keep to that schedule, day after day, week after week. Plus, depending upon the device (like Nest, for example!) you can even adjust the temperature from your smartphone, meaning you can tweak the settings of your home thermostat wherever and whenever you might be.

Call the pros at Interstate Heat and Air today and make sure your HVAC system is prepared for the changing seasons! Don’t wait until it’s too cold to do anything. The sooner you inspect or replace your HVAC system, the better! Schedule an appointment with us today. Call now at 405-794-8900!

For information or assistance with HVAC efficiency, give Interstate Heating & Air Conditioning a call at 405-794-8900.

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