7 Household AC Maintenance Tips For Winter And Fall

These days, air conditioners are a regular feature in many homes. AC units are a worthwhile investment for any homeowner because they make life bearable. This is particularly true for those who reside in regions with harsh weather. But when the winter season approaches, air conditioners become crucial. People use their AC units frequently during the winter, which explains why energy bills are usually high during winter.

Every homeowner knows that regular AC maintenance is important if they want their unit to last. But you should note that the transition to winter or fall could take a toll on your AC unit. So, preventative maintenance is important to prepare your AC unit for the winter. That said, here are some AC maintenance tips to keep in mind.

1. Hire Professional Maintenance

The prospect of handling HVAC maintenance on your own could be quite appealing. But it’s always best to hire a technician to handle maintenance work. Qualified professional technicians like Sanibel, FL A/C repair can perform a comprehensive inspection, cleaning, and tune-up. Before winter or fall approaches, furnace maintenance is needed.

Annual HVAC maintenance is necessary to keep the system in good working order and identify small issues before they become more serious. Adhering to this schedule ensures lower utility charges, fewer unexpected repairs, and a cozier house. You can watch this video to find out why it’s important to hire a reliable contractor for HVAC maintenance: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsfuPwfylO-YcI8V6y19vUg

2. Replace Air Filter

Your air filter is one of the most important parts of your AC unit. The air filter’s main job is to clean the air that goes through the AC unit. This improves the quality of air and prevents large particles from damaging the AC unit. With time, the filter eventually becomes clogged with dust, grime, hair, textile fibers, and other airborne particles. While this is completely normal and is a sign that the filter is working properly, an excessively clogged filter can impede airflow, burdening your furnace and increasing your electricity costs. So, it’s best to ensure that the filter is changed every one to three months. Alternatively, A/C repair technicians could clean your filter for you.

3. Cover It Up

Covering your AC unit is an easy way to prepare it for winter. This helps keep out ice, rain, and snow. Your air conditioner won’t be as prepared for summer if you don’t cover it properly. But your unit will survive longer and be operable when required if you do the necessary preventative maintenance and cover it up.

4. Seal The Ductwork

If your system has damaged ductwork, it could cause air to leak into unconditioned rooms, making the unit tremendously inefficient. Note that you shouldn’t use duct tape to seal ducts. It’s best to employ an HVAC contractor for expert ductwork sealing. This investment will save your heating expenses, increase comfort in your house, and enhance indoor air quality.

5. Check Your Thermostat

Modern AC units have a programmable thermostat. This is a handy feature in any AC unit because it prevents the AC unit from working overtime. During the winter, you must ensure that you set the thermostat to a higher temperature to keep your house warm. But you don’t want to set it at an excessive temperature either.

As much as possible, refrain from changing your default settings too much. Before adjusting the thermostat, curl up in a blanket if you’re cold. But, if you must change the temperature, change it by one or two degrees. Turning the thermostat up too much won’t help your home heat up any faster, and you may even end up wasting electricity.

Your HVAC system will have to work harder than necessary if your thermostat is set to keep the house excessively warm. Instead, you may schedule when you’ll be home and when you’ll be away from the house to control the heating. With more advanced and smart AC units, you can regulate the smart thermostat even if you’re away from home. Nevertheless, programming your thermostat is a fantastic way of managing utility bills during the wintertime.

6. Clean Air Vents and Registers

Start by checking each room’s air registers. If they’re dirty, use the brush attachment to vacuum them to clean them up. Next, look to see whether any supply and return vents are covered by pieces of furniture, carpets, or drapes. Clear away these obstacles to ensure optimal airflow. Now, it’s important not to fall into the temptation of blocking the vents in areas that aren’t being utilized in the hopes of saving money. This is because doing so can disturb the airflow efficiency, causing more damage and higher energy costs.

7. Clean The Unit

There’s nothing complicated about this step. It simply entails cleaning the space around your unit by removing dirt, twigs, leaves, and other debris. You certainly don’t want any of these items to get into your AC because they could cause damage to internal components. So, when fall and winter arrive, tidy the area surrounding your unit.

Conclusion

Regular annual HVAC maintenance is important to keep your unit healthy. Also, as part of preventative maintenance, you should invest in furnace maintenance before fall or winter. This will save you tons of money when summer arrives. While the thought of handling maintenance on your own is tempting, please don’t fall for it. It’s always best to have a professional HVAC technician handle all the repair and maintenance work for the best results.