Back-to-School Tips for Your Home and HVAC System
As the kids head back to the classroom, your HVAC system heads into another season of dealing with the Delaware and Pennsylvania area’s chilly fall and winter weather. Make the transition easier on your family and your system with a few basic steps.
Do Some Fall Cleaning
Your HVAC system sees heavy use in summer, so the air filter will pick up debris faster than during the off seasons. A dirty filter impairs airflow, reducing your system’s energy efficiency and subjecting the components to harmful strain. Check the filter, and if you find a layer of dust, put in a new filter. Inspect your filter monthly and replace as necessary.
Trim back any shrubbery or weeds around your A/C’s outdoor unit to at least 18 inches away from the unit. Use a stiff brush to remove debris, such as grass clippings and pollen buildup, from the exterior aluminum fins. Remove the top of the unit and use a hose to wash remaining debris from the fins from the inside out. Finally, cover the unit with plywood to keep snow out. Plastic coverings encourage rust.
An annual professional furnace inspection improves your furnace’s efficiency and protects you from carbon monoxide poisoning. Schedule for early fall. Fall is a slow period for HVAC companies, so you’ll have a better chance of getting a convenient appointment time.
Choose Energy-Efficient Temperatures
Update the settings on your programmable thermostat to suit your family’s fall schedule. If you’ll no longer need cooling this year, set your system to “heat.” If no one will be home from work or school until early evening, set your thermostat for an energy-saving temperature, such as 55 degrees, for the time when no one’s home. For the rest of the evening until bedtime, choose a more comfortable temperature, such as 68 degrees.
At Sobieski Services, Inc., our goal is to help our customers in Delaware, Pennsylvania, Maryland and New Jersey learn more about energy and home comfort issues — especially HVAC and plumbing issues — so that they can save money and live in healthier, more comfortable homes.
