Summer can be busy. Between the fun holidays and sunny days, many homeowners don’t have time to think about the state of their HVAC or plumbing systems. Fortunately, fall is the perfect time to get ahead of maintenance and prevent problems before they have a chance to wreak havoc on your wallet.
Of course, our homes’ HVAC and plumbing systems have many moving parts. Where should you even start? We’re here to help with an easy-to-follow guide if you’re feeling overwhelmed. Keep reading for our HVAC and plumbing maintenance tips for fall.
HVAC Maintenance Tips
The HVAC system in your home has an important job. During the summer months, your air conditioning system is responsible for keeping your family cool. When the cooler fall and winter seasons roll around, your heating system works hard to make your home warm. If you ignore your HVAC system and neglect its needs, you could end up facing a costly repair — and a miserable household.
Our fall HVAC maintenance tips are here to ensure that your system is running smoothly when the outdoor temperatures start dropping. Let’s discuss them in detail below.
Inspect the Thermostat
It’s important to check your thermostat to make sure it’s working properly. If you have a programmable thermostat, you might want to consider resetting it as the weather cools down. The last thing you want is to have the AC blasting on a chilly autumn night.
Also, this is a good time to check and replace the batteries. Important devices, such as the thermostat and carbon monoxide detectors, need to have their batteries replaced every six months. Both of these maintenance tasks are quick to complete and can provide peace of mind.
Check HVAC Vents
Over the course of the summer, the supply and return vents throughout your home can collect dust and debris. One of our fall HVAC maintenance tips is to clean these vents with a vacuum. Once you’ve removed any visible debris, you can clean the smaller nooks and crannies with a microfiber duster.
Clean the Outdoor Unit
Have you checked your air conditioner’s outdoor unit recently? This unit, which is often known as the “condenser,” can become clogged with dirt and various types of debris, such as leaves and small twigs.
Before you start any kind of maintenance, remember to shut off the power to the outdoor unit. This is an important safety precaution that shouldn’t be overlooked. Once you’ve done this, you can use a hose to blast off any dirt and debris on the outside of the unit.
If you’re ready to try these fall HVAC maintenance tips, remember to use caution. If you don’t feel comfortable performing a particular cleaning task, don’t hesitate to schedule a professional cleaning service.
Replace the Air Filter
Although we’ve discussed many useful maintenance tasks so far, there are some that shouldn’t be ignored. In fact, some of them are incredibly important to the overall function of your AC and heating systems. Of course, we’re talking about HVAC air filters.
When discussing HVAC and plumbing maintenance tips for fall, it’s impossible not to mention these filters. HVAC contractors recommend replacing your air filter every 90 days or even more frequently if you have pets and/or children running in and out of the house. This might seem a little too frequent, but it’s actually not.
Why should you replace this air filter regularly? If this filter becomes clogged with debris, then your cooling system might end up working harder than it needs to. In fact, you could find yourself needing to schedule an HVAC repair in Jackson, MS.
Plumbing Maintenance Tips
It’s easy to forget how important and all-encompassing your plumbing system is. These pipes, drains, and plumbing fixtures require regular care and attention, just like any other appliance or system in your home.
Fortunately, there are many HVAC and plumbing maintenance tips for fall that can improve your home’s comfort. Let’s discuss more of them below.
Disconnect Outdoor Hoses
Did you use a hose to water your grass, plants, or flowers this summer? Now that the season is coming to an end, don’t forget to remove and drain your hoses. When temperatures drop, water can freeze inside of the hose and lead to burst pipes in the long run.
Double down on safety by adding an insulating cover to your outdoor faucets. Doing this now can prepare you for the freezing temperatures in the winter.
Test the Sump Pump (If You Have One)
Storms can happen any time of the year, and you want to make sure that your sump pump is ready for any heavy rain that comes your way. It’s a good idea to run your sump pump to see if it’s functioning correctly.
Testing your sump pump is a fairly straightforward process. Pour water into the sump pump pit until the float rises. At this point, the pump should switch on and start removing the water. If the pump doesn’t work like it should, contact a technician for a repair right away.
Insulate Plumbing Pipes
No homeowner wants to experience frozen pipes. When the pipes throughout your home freeze as a result of cold weather, they can end up bursting. This particular issue will require a costly and comprehensive repair.
Insulating your plumbing pipes is one of our most noteworthy HVAC and plumbing maintenance tips for fall. Of course, ensuring your pipes are properly-insulated can have more benefits than preventing a disaster. When your pipes are insulated, you’ll waste less time waiting for the water to warm up and save money on your utility bills.
Flush the Water Heater
If you have a traditional water heater, it’s important to flush the tank at least once a year. Flushing water heaters ensures that any sediment collected in the tank is removed. Plus, you can potentially save money on your energy bills.
While some homeowners are skilled at DIY maintenance, this is certainly not a task you should feel pressured to do yourself. Contact a professional for help, especially if you have an older tank that has never been flushed. You don’t want to end up with more trouble than you started with.
When learning about HVAC and plumbing maintenance tips for fall, you might think that you can skip over your water heater. However, this is certainly not the case. If your water heater malfunctions due to a lack of maintenance, you’ll be left without hot water. In the end, you’ll need to schedule a repair.
Keep Comfortable All Year Long With Environment Masters
There are many fall HVAC maintenance tips and plumbing tricks to try. If you need help getting your home ready for the season, get in touch with Environment Masters. We’re your plumbing, heating, and cooling experts.
Our plumbers and professional HVAC technicians are happy to help with all of your maintenance needs. We specialize in a broad range of services, including thermostat installations and hydro jet plumbing in Madison, MS, and beyond. Contact us today!
