As summer starts to come to a close, we start dreaming of cooler weather, which means it’s time to start thinking about your winter heating needs. You wouldn’t let your car go without inspections and oil changes—treat your HVAC system the same way.

Your HVAC system for heating or cooling requires regular maintenance, and while the repairs should be left to us, there are steps you can take to assess if there are any problems that need to be addressed. It may seem early, but it’s better to catch problems before you lose functionality in the middle of winter when you need the heat.

Your cooling system may be running great, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that your heating system is. In the off time during the spring and fall months, elements of your heating system may stop working. Here are a few simple steps you can take to assess if your heating system is working properly.

Check Your Thermostat

It may seem obvious, but the first thing you should do is turn the unit on and see if it’s working. Set your thermostat to about 75 degrees and wait a moment. Put your hand over the vent and feel if warm air is pushing out. If you don’t feel warm air, or if it takes more than a few minutes to put out warm air, there may be a larger issue.

Check the Air Filter

Sometimes, limited heat or slow heat could point to the air filter. Use your owner’s manual to check where your air filter is located. It’s a pretty quick check to see if the air filter is dirty or clogged. Air filters typically need to be cleaned or changed every three to nine months.

Tune-up

Have one of our professionals come to your home and perform a fall tune-up. An HVAC tune-up is not something you should do yourself, and a technician can make sure your unit is running at optimal capacity.

Registers, Grilles, and Vents

It goes by many names, but the register is the vent through which warm air pushes into the home. Turn on your heating system and check every register to feel that they are all putting out warm air at the same force and temperature. Contact a technician if one of your registers is not functioning properly.

Return Air Vent

All HVAC systems have a return air vent, which sucks in air to either be cooled again or warmed. This air will also be filtered. The return vent is an essential part of your system, so you should include this as part of your pre-season checklist. The return air vent is usually huge, and you can assess its effectiveness by putting your hand close to the grille—you should feel a light suction.

Clean Around Your HVAC System

As a matter of safety, you should clean the area surrounding your unit and remove any debris, vegetation, and potentially flammable material.

Your Seasonal Experts

Don’t wait for winter to come before your check your heating system. Total Comfort Heating and Cooling can fill all of your HVAC needs.  Contact us so we can perform a seasonal tune-up and make sure everything is going to perform when you need it.