We don’t tend to think much about our HVAC system, even this time of year, when Durham, North Carolina residents are (finally!) turning off the AC and switching to heat.
Photo by Lisa Fotios
But the condition and performance of your home’s heating and cooling systems are critical to your comfort and health. Seasonal maintenance is helpful — even for a new system. Otherwise, you may never know a small problem is lurking until it becomes a larger, costly repair. Just like a car, your furnace and air conditioner need regular tune-ups. These seasonal checks can:
- Extend Your Furnace’s Lifespan – Of course, no furnace or AC unit will last forever. But by performing fall maintenance, you could prolong the lifespan of the unit. Fall is a perfect time to schedule an inspection on your furnace before you turn it on for the first time.
- Save You Money on Repairs – While you still may need repairs, regular maintenance ensures that a small problem doesn’t become a big one.
- Keep Your Heater Running Efficiently – Our furnace team will make sure you have no duct issues. We’ll also check other critical parts to make sure your furnace is working at full capacity.
- Keep You Safe – We’ll also be on the lookout for potential safety hazards, such as a carbon monoxide leak.
DIY Heating Maintenance
While a professional should check your furnace each year, there are also plenty of tasks you can do at home to keep your system happy:
- Clean/change the filters. Your intake filters get dirty; don’t forget to change them regularly. Depending on your medical conditions, household size, and pets, experts recommend changing out filters every two to three months. If you have respiratory problems such as asthma, you may want to change the filter out more frequently to prevent the buildup of pollutants that aggravate your condition.
- Check around the furnace itself for dirt, debris, or stuff. Make sure the airflow parts of clean.
- Seal up drafty areas of your home, including cracked windows and the spaces under doorways.
- Replace the batteries in your carbon monoxide detector.
What to Expect from a 6&Fix HVAC Service
We have an extensive checklist we perform when maintaining heaters and furnaces. This ensures that your system won’t break down or operate below what you need. Our seasonal tune-ups include the following services:
- Replacing Filters
- Checking and adjusting refrigerant pressures
- Checking electrical connections
- Lubricating specific components
- Checking belts for proper condition
- Checking and cleaning condensate drain systems
- Ensuring that electrical controls are working properly
- And much, much more!
Is there a smell coming from your heating vents? Any odd noises when you turn on the heat?
