Preparing Your Heating System for Fall
Autumn’s cooler temperatures provide the perfect opportunity to prepare and test out your heating system for the cold winter to come. Here are four actions to take now to keep your household warm, healthy, and comfortable throughout fall and winter.
1. Change the Air Filter
Your air filters are the most important part of your heating system. Their basic function is to trap and hold all types of particulates and contaminants present in the air, mitigating respiratory issues while ensuring that your room remains filled with fresh air at all times.
Air filters also play a crucial role in maintaining proper airflow in your home. When clogged, every part of your heating system will struggle and, in some cases, completely shut down. For example, the fan will have to work harder to pull or push air in and out of the system. This will increase strain on the motor, causing it to break down.
That said, make sure to change or wash your air filters before fall sets in. When replacing disposable ones, get the right type of filter for your heating system. Consider the fit, minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV) rating, and the type of contaminants you have.
The MERV rating measures air filter performance. It ranges from 1 to 16, with 16 being the best. For the type of contaminant, choose a filter that is specifically suited to the problem you have at your home. For example, if you want to eradicate unwanted smells from your basement or kitchen, an activated carbon filter works best because it can efficiently absorb odor particles.
2. Check for Air Leaks
In an ideal situation, a house should be completely sealed so that the outdoor and indoor air do not mix unless you make this happen by opening windows. Your heating system maintains a closed loop system to provide ultimate comfort and warmth. This means the amount of air it takes in to condition returns in equal capacity. If this balance changes, you will end up with hot and cold spots all over the house.
The best way to deal with this issue is to inspect your home for leaks, seal all that you find, and address potential ones. A good starting point is the doors and windows. Check the frames to see if light shines through from the other side, or feel for a breeze. If there’s a leak, use caulk or weather stripping to seal the gaps.
A more foolproof method to find air leaks is to use a detector. Available at most hardware stores, these instruments use advanced technology, such as ultrasonic acoustic sound emission or thermal imaging, to identify and locate even the smallest of leaks. Work with a professional HVAC technician who knows how to use them.
3. Revisit Your Home’s Insulation
The temperature outside your home during fall and winter and the level of warmth you’ll try to achieve indoors will be drastically different. According to the laws of physics, heat naturally moves to an area that’s colder until its temperature becomes the same.
So, if you don’t want to lose the warmth that your heating system has worked hard to achieve, ensure your insulation is up to par. Areas to pay close attention to include the attic, ceiling, basement, floors, and lastly, the walls.
Blanket insulation, made of flexible fibers such as fiberglass, mineral wool, or plastic fibers, is ideal for the attic. Sprayed polyurethane foam (SPF) fills gaps or spaces left around the blanket insulation. Foam boards are effective for walls and floors.
4. Clean the Outdoor Unit
The outdoor unit, the condenser, is the heart of the heating system. This is where the process of heat transfer occurs. The outdoor unit contains a liquid known as a refrigerant that travels back and forth to the indoor unit to release the heat needed to warm the air. If you are using an air-source heat pump, for instance, the refrigerant will extract heat from the outside air and transfer it to the indoor air until the desired temperature is reached.
For this process to flow effortlessly, nothing should obstruct the outdoor unit. Remove leaves, dust, and any other debris that might impede airflow.
Call Vastola Heating & Cooling Today for Professional Maintenance
The final stamp on preparing your heating system for fall is scheduling maintenance with a professional HVAC company like ours. We also offer indoor air quality solutions, electrical services, and generator installation.
If you live in Erie County, NY, call Vastola Heating & Cooling today for expert assessments and repairs.
