Keeping Your Home Cozy

As we head into fall, the weather will be cooling down and it’ll be time to get out those cozy blankets and hot cocoa. With fall comes pumpkins, roasting marshmallows, apple picking, and warmer clothes, but the new season also means taking care of some maintenance tasks around the house.

It’s normal to be excited for some fall fun, but many homeowners often forget that in order to stay comfortable all season long, you need to take care of general HVAC tasks that are often forgotten about. In this blog, we’ll be sharing a few tips for you to make sure you’re cozy and comfortable all throughout fall. Keep reading to find out!

Schedule End-of-Season AC Tune-Up

If you forgot to schedule your AC tune-up before summer, it’s important to have a professional come out and inspect your unit before winter starts. This will ensure that if there are any types of leaks, they will be found and fixed in time to prevent mold and mildew growth.

Clean the Outdoor Unit

Throughout summer, plants, weeds, and other grass clippings might have accumulated around your outdoor unit. It’s important to clear this area to ensure proper airflow into your home. The beginning of fall can still have some warmer days where you might want to use your AC, so if the outdoor unit is blocked with debris, you might not feel as comfortable in your home due to the airflow being blocked. It’s important to continue cleaning the unit throughout fall as the leaves will begin accumulating as well.

Clean Your Vents

Your AC was probably working hard this summer to keep you and your family cool at home, but while your AC runs, dust and other debris can build up in your vents. As fall approaches, make sure to check your vents and clear them of any dust and debris. This will ensure sufficient airflow throughout your home.

Adjust Your Thermostat

Fall is back to school season, which means your house probably isn’t filled with as many people throughout the day. Since the evenings are usually cooler, there’s no need to have your thermostat set to the same temperature it was set to in July and August. Try turning the thermostat up a few degrees and see if you can find a temperature that makes your household comfortable. It’s not necessary to cool a house during the day when no one is home!

Change Your Air Filters

It’s important to check your air filters every 30 days and swap them out at least every 60 to 90 days. Over time, air filters will collect the common indoor air pollutants, like dust and mold, which will then pass through into your home’s air. Changing out your air filters is a relatively simple task and usually requires sliding the old filter out and sliding a new one in.

Seal Air Leaks

Air leaks are the perfect way to increase energy waste in your home, and we sure don’t want that! Energy waste will increase your bills and cause drafts in your home that will cause discomfort. Make sure you check your doors and windows and seal them with caulk or weather stripping.

Inspect Your Water Heater

There’s nothing worse than taking a shower on a chilly day only to find out your water heater is malfunctioning and a cold shower is your only option. You can avoid this issue by inspecting your water heater at the start of the new season. Turning up the temperature a few degrees is also completely fine. Most water heaters are set to about 140 degrees, so turning it up about 5 to 10 more will keep your water hot all season long.