In our part of the world, fall can come early, necessitating turning on the heating system before we normally do. That’s why it’s important to do your fall HVAC maintenance soon — while it’s still officially summer, so you’re ahead of any cold fronts that might come muscling in during August or September.
Regular maintenance on your HVAC system is essential. Maintenance helps keep your system clean so that friction between parts is minimized; that means the system will run cooler and parts will last longer. Plus, an experienced HVAC tech can troubleshoot your system, catching potential problems before they become big maintenance issues.
So read on about what should be on your fall HVAC maintenance list.
Clean up around your air conditioner condenser
Remove weeds, leaves, dry grass and any debris from around the unit. Cut back branches that hang over the unit; trim back shrubbery that surrounds it. It’s best not to cover it entirely for the winter, although you can anchor a piece of sturdy wood on top of it to keep leaves out.
Change your air filter
You should be changing your filter often — every month for a fiberglass filter; every two to three months for better quality filters. If you have shedding pets or high foot traffic in your home, change it more often.
Clean if necessary
Check vents and registers for dust and obstructions
Schedule your HVAC technician to do the following:
- Test controls and thermostat calibration.
- Check electrical connections.
- Check ductwork, ensuring all segments are connected and there are no holes or gaps.
- Check flue for corrosion or leaks.
- Check pilot assembly; clean if necessary.
- Check burner flames to make sure they’re burning blue and not orange. Adjust if needed.
- Check heat exchanger for minute cracks that might be allowing carbon monoxide to escape into your home.
- Check combustion chamber.
- Set manifold gas pressure.
- Check gas valve.
- Check heat anticipator.
- Check blower wheel.
- Check blower motor and wheel.
- Check fans.
For more on proper fall HVAC maintenance, contact Arpi’s Industries. We have served Calgary for more than 50 years.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Calgary, Alberta about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about other HVAC topics, talk to an Arpi’s technician today.
