Get Your HVAC System Ready for Fall and Winter

Change your air filter

Air filters on HVAC units should be changed every one to three months, depending on your filter type. If you have pets or indoor allergies, you should change your air filter more often. Clogged air filters can limit airflow, causing your furnace to work harder, which results in more repairs and less heating efficiency. Changing your air filter ensures that your furnace can suck in enough air to properly filter the air in your home and provide adequate heating and airflow to all the rooms in your house.

Check and adjust your thermostat

Check your thermostat’s settings and change the batteries. You’ll want to make sure that the temperature settings and times are correct: The Department of Energy recommends setting your thermostat to 68 degrees while you are awake or at home, and 61 degrees while you are at work or sleeping.

Schedule a professional furnace inspection

Just because your furnace was operating properly at the end of last season, doesn’t mean it’s fine for the upcoming season. These inspections also include thoroughly cleaning the inside and outside of your furnace, lubricating any moving parts and testing your furnace for proper operation. A professional inspection with our HVAC technicians can help find problems with your furnace and thermostat before the winter season starts. If any problems are found with your unit, they can be repaired in a timely manner. Here’s a list of our 19-step precision tune-up:

1. Check thermostat operation
2. Check pilot ignition sequence (adjust pilot) and observe main burner operation
3. Check flue draft on natural draft furnaces
4. Test fan switch/heating fan relay operation
5. Check primary limit operation
6. Cycle furnace off, and record “fan off” temp.
7. Visually inspect heat exchanger
8. Check blower wheel for cleanliness, and check and blower motor to include bearings, belts, pulleys
9. Check air filter (air Cleaner)
10. Check furnace temperature rise
11. Fire furnace & leak check gas line from manual safety shutoff to main burners
12. Test flue spill switch operation
13. Check auxiliary limit switch operation
14. Test draft safeguard switch operation
15. Check humidifier operation
16. Operate furnace through one cycle
17. Clean furnace cabinet
18. Review results with customer (IAQ-Plumbing-Electrical)
19. Review service agreement options with customer

Consider replacing your furnace

Furnaces are designed to last between 20 and 30 years, but a newer model may be more energy-efficient than those manufactured even 10 years ago. If you’ve noticed the need to perform more repairs on your unit or have noticed a dramatic increase in your winter heating bills, replacing your unit prior to the start of the new winter season can help you save money on your heating bills and ensure you have reliable heat all season long.

To schedule a furnace inspection in Atlanta, call us at 770-421-8400.

Looking for more ways to save?

If you're using natural gas to heat your home or business, check out this helpful blog from our partner Gas South, Georgia's most-trusted natural gas provider: Tips to Reduce Your Natural Gas Bill