HVAC Tips For Fall

Tips to Get Your HVAC System Ready for Fall

Goodbye, summer. Hello, fall. The temperatures outside are cooling down. It’s time to break out the scarves and boots. But your closet isn’t the only thing you need to prepare – your HVAC needs special attention to get ready for the crisp weather and cool nights.

Here are our top tips to get your system ready for Fall:

1.     Change Your Air Filter

Air filters not only protect your family from allergens and air pollution; they also keep your HVAC system running optimally. If you haven’t changed your filter recently, now is the time! A more efficient, cleaner HVAC system is especially important during the colder months.

2.     Clean Around Your Outdoor Unit

They call it ‘fall’ for a reason! Fallen leaves and debris can collect around your outdoor unit and cause problems. Clear the area of debris, cut back any shrubs getting too close and give Walker HVAC a call if you notice anything has fallen inside your unit.

3.     Open Your Dampers

Air damper handles are typically found on the ductwork above the indoor system. During the heating season, opening all of your air dampers should help to keep the temperature in your home more even while allowing your HVAC system to breathe. Many homeowners close the lower level damper in the summer to force more air upstairs, but then forget to reopen it in the winter. If you have dampers but are unsure how to use them, simply request that your technician label them ‘summer’ and ‘winter’ during your next tune-up.

4.     Seal Air Leaks

If you want to keep your home warm and cozy through the cold months, you’ll want to eliminate air leaks so your warm air stays IN! Air leaks in the average house are equivalent to leaving a medium window wide open 24- hours a day. While you won’t be able to eliminate all of the leaking, you can identify some leaks by holding a paper up to a spot where you suspect a leak and seeing if it moves. Not sure where the source of the leak is? Call one of our Walker HVAC techs in Woodbridge, VA to come to check for you.

5.     Schedule HVAC Maintenance

Just like you need checkups to stay healthy, your HVAC system needs preventative maintenance to keep running efficiently and have a long lifespan. We suggest maintenance twice a year – spring and fall are the best times for tune-ups. Many of the breakdowns and repairs we see in winter have to do with a lack of preventative maintenance and could have been easily avoided.

Call Walker Heating & Air Conditioning at 703-483-2400. We service Woodbridge, VA, and surrounding areas with HVAC maintenance, repairs, replacement, and more.