As the weather starts to change and cool breezes blow, you should make sure your furnace is up to the job by putting together a fall maintenance checklist using these furnace prep tips. After all, it can be a real pain to deal with a broken down furnace once it is already cold out. Plus, going through a fall maintenance checklist with your HVAC system can improve system health and performance overall, including boosting indoor air quality and helping your system to run more efficiently.
If your heating & air conditioning system is in need of some fall maintenance care, give Galmiche & Sons a call! In St. Louis and the surrounding areas, we will help you sort out that fall maintenance checklist out in no time!
Cleaning & General Maintenance
The first thing you will want to consider when developing your fall maintenance checklist is cleaning. An HVAC system needs to be cleaned about every six months to maintain functionality and prevent indoor air quality concerns. When you bring your HVAC service team in for a fall check-up, there are a few cleaning tasks that they will perform, including changing out the air filter in your HVAC system, cleaning out ducts if needed, and making sure there is no grime buildup on any of the internal components of your HVAC system.
From there, your fall maintenance checklist should focus on inspection, making sure every part of your heating system is ready to work all winter. Your service team will check for leaks and blockages in your chimney or flue, as well as cracks on the gas line and loose electrical components. Checking to make sure everything is in working order and that there is not significant build-up or debris in the system will keep your HVAC system working safely and efficiently all winter.
Creating Your Fall Maintenance Checklist
In addition to general cleaning and inspection, there are a few autumn specifics that should make it onto your fall maintenance checklist. Once a year, you should have your thermostat tested to make sure it is working correctly. Fall is a great time to do this as well as to revisit thermostat best practices. Similarly, your service tech should check your condensate drain pan to make sure it is fully drained from the cooling season. Finally, burners and ignitions should be checked to make sure they are working correctly and will not pose a safety risk when the furnace is flipped on.
With all these things taken care of, you are well on your way to having completed a fall maintenance checklist for your HVAC system. Still, there are a few more things you can do on your own to help your heater run more smoothly and efficiently throughout the fall. Seal your home as well as you can to increase insulation in the winter months. Look for cracks and gaps, and make sure your home’s insulation is up to the task. Another big item on the fall maintenance checklist is to clear leaves and other debris from gutters and drainpipes. Having water back up is bad for a lot of reasons, but it can also damage your system. With all this done, you should be ready for a warm and cozy winter with a well-functioning heating system.
Contact Galmiche & Sons to Complete Your Fall Maintenance Checklist
At Galmiche & Sons, we have been helping St. Louis families go over their fall maintenance checklists for over 60 years! When it comes to St. Louis heating & air conditioning, we are the experts, so give us a call today!
