It’s that time of year again when we’re all getting ready for the winter months ahead. What’s one good way to get on top of things? Our heating and cooling checklist!
“Cooling”? What do you mean, it’s fall!
Yes, the first thing you need to do this fall is to get your cooling system ready! Even though you won’t be needing it anymore this year, you need to make sure it’s ready for cold and snow.
First off, you’ll want to give the coils on the A/C unit a thorough cleaning. Turn off the power to the unit, then clear away any visible mess on the unit. Big things like sticks and autumn leaves, and dirt on the fins can pack around the system and cause clogging. You can use a bristle brush or a vacuum attachment to clean smaller pieces of dirt and debris. Another step you can take to clean your A/C unit and get it ready for fall is removing the top grille, taking out the fan, then cleaning out the bottom of the unit. To clean the fins and coils, spray the unit with a garden hose from the inside out. Last but not least, when the unit is squeaky clean and ready for fall and winter, you can cover it up with a tarp or with an actual A/C cover (available in stores or online).
If you don’t feel comfortable with any step in this process, contact an H.A. Sun technician, and we’ll be glad to help you in your Oakland County home!
Preparing your heating system
Now, getting your heating system ready for the fall and winter months is a bit more of a straightforward process. An excellent first step is to ensure that there are no out-of-the-ordinary odors when you first turn the system on for the year. It’s normal to smell burning dust as the heating system gets going, but if it smells off in any way – like gas! – then, you’ll want to turn it off and call your H.A. Sun technician immediately for repairs before turning it back on again. It could be a natural gas leak. Even scarier is the possibility that you won’t smell anything, but the problem is the odorless gas carbon monoxide. That’s why you need to check/change the batteries in your carbon monoxide alarm before you turn your furnace on!
If everything smells okay and you’ve got fresh alarm batteries, now you can move on to the next step on the checklist: changing your filter! Some filters need to be changed monthly, while others last three months. But never let it go longer than that! A clogged filter is the most significant cause of a poorly running furnace, so change it now!
It’s also a good idea to inspect your air ducts during this time. Look for any cracks or holes on the inside of the ducts – if you notice anything that doesn’t look right, give us a call, and we’ll send someone out to fix it.
Call H.A. Sun
Last but certainly not least, on your fall checklist, you need to get an annual furnace tune-up if you haven’t already! During this tune-up, your H.A. Sun technician will check all the major components of your furnace and make sure everything is in working order. It’s an important step you can’t miss!
Ready to start the checklist in your Oakland County home? Schedule an appointment online or call H.A. Sun: (248) 986-1506
