Fall HVAC System Maintenance Checklist: Here’s How It Should Look

As the warmth of summer wanes and fall approaches, it’s time to get your home ready for the cooler weather that lies ahead. You should clear out the gutters, check the condition of the roof, re-caulk the windows, and clean and put away yard and garden equipment. Scheduling fall HVAC system maintenance is essential too, so you can enjoy a warm, cozy home throughout the winter months.

What to Expect From a Fall HVAC Maintenance Appointment

Twice-yearly tune-ups are critical to keep your HVAC system running at optimal efficiency, ensure your comfort, and extend the equipment’s service life. Here are some of the tasks you can expect to have covered during a professional fall HVAC checkup:

• Verifying the thermostat’s functionality and accuracy. If you don’t already have one, your HVAC technician may recommend installing a programmable thermostat to enhance your energy savings.
• Checking and tightening electrical connections, and testing the motor’s voltage and current. Loose or faulty electrical connections and voltage and current issues can make the system unreliable and more likely to fail, and they pose a serious safety risk.
• Testing the start-up cycle and safety controls. This ensures that the system starts up, runs and shuts down as expected, and that the equipment operates safely.
• Lubricating all moving parts. The friction that results from a lack of lubrication increases energy consumption and the risk of overheating and a fire or failure.
• Inspecting the vent system. If the chimney or exhaust vent is damaged or blocked, deadly carbon monoxide (CO) can back-draft into the home’s air supply.
• Checking the furnace fuel lines/connections, burners and heat exchanger. A cracked/corroded heat exchanger, dirty burners, and fuel-line leaks not only reduce the system’s energy efficiency, they compromise safety.
• Changing the air filter. In between professional tune-ups, check the filter monthly, and replace or clean it as needed to keep the system operating efficiently, and to protect your comfort equipment.

For all the details about fall HVAC system maintenance, contact us today at Keith Air Conditioning, Inc. We’ve been dedicated to the home comfort of Mobile and Baldwin County residents since 1964.