With cooler weather soon on the horizon, it’s time to take certain steps to make sure your HVAC system is ready for the seasonal transition. By being proactive, you can avoid issues arising and ensure your home is always comfortable, no matter what the temperature is outside. In this guide, we’ll discuss exactly what steps you should take and why each one is important.
Check the Air Filter and Replace/Wash if Needed
With standard 1-inch HVAC air filters, the general recommendation is to replace them every two to three months. The same interval also applies to washing a reusable filter. While you may need to replace or wash the filter in the middle of summer, it’s always a good idea to do so again when the seasons change. That way, you can make sure that your HVAC system continues working efficiently throughout the fall as needed and is ready whenever you need to make the transition from cooling to heating.
Running your HVAC system with a dirty, clogged air filter is one of the biggest mistakes you can make. Not only will it lead to reduced performance and higher energy bills, but it can also create issues that result in a sudden breakdown or lead to the system not lasting as long.
If your HVAC system uses a thicker media filter instead of a standard filter, you will usually only need to replace it once or twice a year. Nonetheless, it’s always a good idea to check the filter at least once every few months so that you know when it’s starting to get overly dirty and will soon need to be replaced.
Keep the Area Around the Outdoor Unit Clean
In places like San Diego, where it’s common to still have your air conditioning running at times throughout most of the fall, you will need to regularly clean around your outdoor HVAC unit to remove any fallen leaves and other debris. Especially important is removing any leaves that are stuck to the sides of the unit.
If there’s any vegetation growing in the area, you also want to make sure to cut it back so that the unit has a minimum of 2-3 feet of clearance. You can also safely wash out any dirt and debris from inside the unit with a hose, but you should never use a pressure washer, which could cause damage.
The purpose of all of this is to ensure that your AC or heat pump always receives sufficient airflow and that the condenser coil isn’t blocked or clogged. There always needs to be a large volume of air continually blowing across the condenser coil for your HVAC system to disperse the heat it pulled out of the house. If the airflow is even partially blocked off, the system won’t be able to cool as effectively and will use more energy. These same issues also result if the condenser coil is overly dirty.
The air the condenser fan forces through the unit also helps to prevent the compressor from overheating and causing the system to suddenly shut down. Another concern if the compressor keeps overheating is that it can result in short-cycling, which is when the system continually turns on and off in quick succession. Not only does short-cycling result in an HVAC system using more energy, but it also leads to significantly more wear and tear that can shorten the system’s lifespan or lead to frequent breakdowns.
Check That Your Thermostat Is Showing the Correct Temperature
Thermostats can sometimes fail to read the temperature in a house correctly, leading to the HVAC system shutting off too soon or running longer than necessary, leading to issues with decreased comfort or higher energy bills. If you have an old manual thermostat, it must be fully level, or it won’t work as it should.
You can check if a digital thermostat is reading the temperature in your house correctly just by using a thermometer and comparing the two readings. One thing that can help, if a digital thermostat isn’t reading the right temperature, is to take off the cover and gently use a cloth or compressed air to clean out any dust, as dust can interfere with its sensor.
If this doesn’t work, you’ll need to schedule a service call and have the technician inspect and check the thermostat. One possibility is that the thermostat needs to be recalibrated, but incorrect temperature readings can also be a sign that your thermostat is failing and needs to be replaced.
Test That Your Heating Works
Even though you rarely need to run your heating during the fall in San Diego, test it before you finally have to turn it on. That way, you can make sure that it still runs and doesn’t have any potential issues. After switching your thermostat to heat mode and adjusting the temperature to where your heating system comes on, you should then let it run for at least 10 minutes so that you can monitor it for any issues like unusual sounds or odors.
The main reason you should do this in the fall is so that you have plenty of time to get any problems fixed before the colder weather arrives. If you wait and suddenly find that your heating isn’t working when you need it, it could potentially be several days before you can get it fixed due to how busy HVAC companies typically are at the start of winter.
Schedule a Professional Tune-up and Inspection
Most experts recommend scheduling an HVAC tune-up and inspection every spring and every fall. Just as regular vehicle maintenance and inspections help a car to run more efficiently, experience fewer problems and last longer, regular HVAC maintenance is important for all of the same reasons. As with your car, most of the essential maintenance tasks are also something that can only be done properly by a trained professional.
Having your HVAC system inspected in the fall allows you to get on top of any problems that could result in higher heating costs or cause your heating to suddenly not work. Whether you heat your house with a furnace or a heat pump, an experienced technician will inspect and test all of the important components and be able to diagnose any potential problems, like a component that’s wearing out and at risk of failing during the winter. They can also identify any issues that could lead to decreased performance or reduced efficiency.
San Diego’s HVAC Experts
At Elite Heating & Air Conditioning Services, we offer premier HVAC solutions for every season and can make sure you benefit from effective, efficient performance all year long. From inspections and maintenance to repairs and system replacements, you can rely on us to expertly manage all of your home comfort needs. As a Lennox Premier Dealer, we offer some of the best equipment and best warranties in the industry.
Our experienced, highly skilled technicians can also service and repair air conditioners, heat pumps and furnaces from every brand. Enrolling in our maintenance membership ensures you’ll get the twice-yearly maintenance you need to keep your HVAC system in top condition, as well as additional benefits like priority service and discounts on repairs, upgrades, diagnostics and after-hours service calls.
To schedule service and make sure that your HVAC system is ready for the cooler weather, contact Elite Heating & Air Conditioning Services today.
