As we fade from summer’s heat into the chill of early fall, we have a lot of transitions to make. As we put away the short sleeves, remove the window screens, and light the pumpkin spice candles, we also need to remember that it’s time to change the house from air conditioning to heat. Technically, this requires nothing more than a couple of quick taps on the thermostat, but to make this change properly, you should be doing several other things first.
1. Get the System Serviced
With each change of the seasons, you should get your heating and cooling system serviced. The HVAC technician will clean and inspect the outdoor unit as well as the air handler inside the house. This process will help uncover any potential problems that may come to a head on some cold, snowy nights. It will also improve your energy efficiency by replacing dirty filters and giving the system a general cleaning.
2. Make a Test Run
Sometime in the last warm days of the summer, you should give the heat a few minutes to run. There are two reasons you should turn on the heat before you actually need it. First, it will give you an idea of any problems that may be awaiting the technician who comes to do your service. If your system isn’t producing warm air, or if you hear any strange sounds from the unit or detect any unusual odors, let the technician know. Speaking of odors, the second reason is to let the electrical heat coils burn off the summer’s dust when you can still open the windows and let the smell clear up.
3. Set Up Thermostat Programming
If you’re an attentive homeowner, you may have your AC set to run less during the day before kicking on during the late afternoon to get things cooled off in time for everyone to come home. Take some time late in the summer or into the early fall to check the programming for your heat so that you still get that energy-efficient performance without sacrificing comfort. If you don’t already have a programmable thermostat – or better yet, a smart thermostat – this would be a good time to install one.
4. Weatherize Your Home
Any change of seasons is a good time to make sure your house is tightly sealed against the elements. Time and weather conspire to shrink caulk and gaskets, creating gaps that allow outdoor air into the house. Before the coldest winds start to blow, give your house a good inspection for openings.
5. Clear Obstructions
It’s easy to let life crowd into the path of your vents and returns. Make sure that the summer’s activities haven’t left furniture, rugs, or other items on top of the registers on your floor. The reduced airflow this creates will make your system work harder and still not provide as much warmth as it should. Make sure that all vents and registers are open, too.
As the leaves change and the temperature drops, be sure your home’s HVAC unit is ready fro the change from air conditioning to heat.
Published by: Holy Minoza
