Cooler weather means it’s time for Greensboro homeowners to schedule their annual heating tune-up. HVAC maintenance for fall is a critical step to ensuring the comfort and safety of your home this winter. In combination with a few simple homeowner tasks, professional maintenance is the best way to improve your system’s reliability, airflow, and efficiency. Since winter temperature can eventually dip into the teens, early heating preparation is a worthwhile step for any Greensboro homeowner.
Read on as the HVAC experts at Gentry Air cover the easy way homeowners can prepare their heat for the colder weather, along with the benefits of regular professional care.
Replace or Check Your HVAC Air Filter
The air filer in your HVAC system is responsible for keeping dust, dander, and debris out of the air that circulates throughout your home. To ensure the quality of your indoor air, we recommend inspecting your filter at the beginning of fall.
If it is dirty, it should be replaced, as a clogged filter can restrict airflow and make your heating system work harder than it should. Once you’ve replaced the filter, continue to replace it every 1-3 months to maintain proper airflow and cleaner air.
Clear and Check Your Supply and Return Vents
Unrestricted airflow is critical when switching from cooling to heating. Use the change of season as a reminder to check that your supply and return vents are unobstructed. Throughout the year, these vents can become blocked by furniture, rugs, curtains, and decor. Take the time to check that there is plenty of room around vents.
As the months go on, this becomes even more important during the holidays. Additional decor, christmas trees, and rearranged furniture can all cause unexpected blockages of these critical vents.
Clean Around Your HVAC Equipment
Keeping the area around your HVAC clear makes it easier to spot potential problems and provides technicians with safe access during a heating tune-up. Before the season changes, remove yard clutter and debris from this area to improve accessibility. It’s also best to keep landscape away and trim bushes back from the outdoor unit to prevent airflow issues.
Run a Test Heating Cycle
Before the cold weather really begins, you’ll want to make sure that your heating system is operating without issue. On a mild day, switch your thermostat to heating mode and briefly test your equipment to confirm that it starts normally, warm air reaches the rooms of your home, and the thermostat responds correctly.
If issues occur, call for professional service before winter temperatures arrive. Trust a technician to diagnose the problem if you experience:
- Unusual noises
- Unexpected odors that persist
- Short cycling
- Difficulty reaching the thermostat setting
- Noticeably uneven heating
Schedule Professional Heating Maintenance Before Winter
While the steps above will help prepare your system for the winter, it doesn’t replace a professional furnace tune-up. To avoid issues with heavy winter use, it’s smart for homeowners to schedule their professional maintenance in the fall.
At Gentry Air, our professional heating maintenance can include:
- Changing the air filter
- Cleaning system components, burners, and flame sensors
- Inspecting electrical wiring and connections
- Lubricating moving components
- Checking and calibrating controls
- Testing the thermostat
- Verifying airflow and temperature
- Inspecting the heat exchanger for cracks
- Performing safety and combustion testing
- Checking gas pressure on gas furnaces
Perhaps the greatest benefit of proactive heating maintenance is the opportunity for technicians to identify developing issues before they cause a breakdown. As a result, homeowners not only receive safe, reliable system operation, but also a reduced risk for costly unexpected breakdowns in the dead of winter.
Consider Signing Up for a Preventative Maintenance Plan
Take HVAC maintenance off your “to-do” list with Gentry Air’s preventative maintenance plan. As a member, homeowners will receive timely reminders to schedule their seasonal services, including both an annual heating and cooling tune-up.
Members receive added bonuses like priority scheduling and a 10% discount on parts and labor. This is the simplest way to improve HVAC efficiency, extend your system’s lifespan, and save on repairs.
Schedule Your Fall Heating Tune-Up With Gentry Air
Prepare for fall in Greensboro today with DIY HVAC preparation and a professional system inspection from Gentry Air. Our expert team is here with quality tune-ups, as well as preventive maintenance plans as an option for year-round HVAC upkeep.
Together, we can eliminate any added strain on your system during times of high demand. Contact our team today for professional service from Gentry Air, your partner in comfort.
Prepare for the colder weather and protect your comfort by scheduling annual heating maintenance with the professional team at Gentry Air today.