Fall HVAC Checklist from Ace Plumbing

Preparing for Fall

As summer winds down and turns to fall, it’s time to make sure that your HVAC system is ready for the transition. That means making sure your air conditioning unit is ready to “hibernate” for the colder months, and ensuring that your heating system wakes from its long nap rested and ready for the lower temperatures. After all, nobody wants to wait for the first cold night to find out everything’s not working as it should! Ace Plumbing has prepared a convenient checklist to get you started.

Proper Maintenance Checklist

As EnergyStar notes, improper maintenance can lead to poor system performance and higher energy bills; just as important, it can mean a system that’s unsafe. So to prevent a financial burden and potential safety issues, there are a few things that are vital to address:

• Check your thermostat to ensure proper function. Also check your settings, ensuring they’re appropriate for the season and your usage patterns. If you don’t have a programmable thermostat, this would be a good time for it!
• Inspect both your heating and air conditioning systems for signs of wear, lubricating any moving parts as needed and replacing parts that are badly worn.
• Check coolant to ensure proper levels.
• Inspect control box and wiring.
• Ensure that all indoor and outdoor components are clean and unobstructed.
• Inspect all lines and connections for proper fit and to ensure that components aren’t worn. This includes electrical, fuel, and ducting on all systems.
• Inspect and clean compressor and condenser coils.
• Clean blower components and ductwork, also changing air filters.

Other Important Steps

There are other steps you can — and should — take that have a surprising impact on how your HVAC system operates, even though they aren’t the first thing most of us would think of:

• Check windows and doors for drafts.
• Pay attention to insolation (incoming sunlight), which can warm your home during the day.
• Consider replacing insulation if it’s old and not as effective as it used to be.
• Invest in a humidifier. Forced air systems run dryer than baseboard heat, and the added moisture in the air can also help it feel a bit warmer even at a lower thermostat setting.

As you’ve scanned this checklist, you may have noticed a few items that leave you scratching your head. That’s okay; there are many things that really are best left to a professional unless you’re experienced with HVAC systems.

So where does that leave you? Hopefully not far from your telephone. If you live in the Ace Plumbing service area, a quick phone call is all it takes to schedule an inspection, cleaning, and service, as well as any needed HVAC repairs. We’ll also show you how to change your filters while we’re there, since in our experience most homeowners don’t change them nearly often enough.

Don’t forget that we’re also here year ‘round for a number of issues, including plumbing, septic, drainage, and the replacement of water and sewer lines. Our service area encompasses Sacramento, Folsom, Fair Oaks, Davis, Woodland, Lincoln, Rocklin, Roseville, Citrus Heights, Mather, El Dorado Hills, Rancho Cordova, West Sacramento and other communities in the area.