Is Your HVAC Ready to Take on Cooler Temperatures?

September 30, 2023

As the leaves begin to change and the air turns crisp, it’s time to prepare your home for the cooler months ahead. Proper HVAC maintenance can help ensure your home stays warm, safe, and energy efficient throughout the season. Below are some tips to help you maximize energy savings this fall:
Inspect your Heating System: Having a professional inspect your HVAC unit may be well worth the cost, ensuring everything functions correctly and providing heat when needed.
Don’t block the heat: Ensure furniture, drapes, or other obstructions do not block your HVAC vents.
Change your air filters: Maintaining a schedule for replacing your filter every month can benefit your HVAC. As the temperature drops and your family starts to spend more time indoors, it can result in more dust clogging your filters. Having a dirty filter forces your HVAC to work harder, which wastes energy.
Check for air leaks: Locating and sealing air leaks is beneficial in having an energy-efficient home. Checking around windows and doors is a great start to seal any leaks. Once you have located the leak, this can be easily fixed or repaired with weather stripping for doors or the appropriate caulk (interior vs. exterior) for windows.
Thermostat settings: Ensure the settings are correct for the season and the fan is on auto. Programming your thermostat at a low, comfortable temperature in the winter and lower while you are sleeping or away from home will help the unit run efficiently. For best results with a heat pump, do not adjust your heat setting by more than 2 degrees at a time. Doing so will cause the auxiliary heat to activate when it is not needed.
Reverse the direction of ceiling fans: During the cold months, make sure your ceiling fans are running clockwise. Doing this will redistribute the warmest air in the room, allowing you to set the thermostat a little lower without sacrificing comfort.
Landscape around the air unit: Remove the build-up of leaves and overgrown vegetation so they do not interfere with the airflow of your outdoor unit. Trimming any bushes or trees and having plenty of clearance, about 2 feet, will help the unit run properly.
Following these fall home maintenance tips, you can enjoy a warm, safe, and energy-efficient home this season. Union Power Cooperative is committed to helping our members save energy and money, and we hope these tips will assist you in preparing your home for the cooler months ahead.