Fall HVAC Tips for St. Louis Area Homeowners

Fall: It’s the season for football, pumpkins, and pecan pie. It’s also the time of year when you transition from home cooling to heating. This means fall is the time to set up your HVAC system for success this heating season. Follow these five tips for the best results.

1. Change the Filter and Clean the Registers

Good airflow is an important part of keeping your home comfortable and preventing your HVAC equipment from overheating. The air conditioner has been running all summer, clogging up the air filter and registers as a result. Swap out the filter for a new one and vacuum the registers with a brush attachment. Repeat these steps every three months to keep the air flowing.

2. Schedule Preventative Furnace Maintenance

Your heating equipment has been dormant all summer long. Soon, it will be running at full tilt to keep your Fenton home warm as the temperature plummets outside. To ensure the equipment is up for the task, take time this fall to have a technician inspect and maintain your furnace. You can expect improved system performance, lower energy bills, fewer breakdowns, and a longer equipment lifespan when you make annual preventative furnace maintenance a priority every fall.

3. Hook Up the Humidifier

To combat the high humidity here in the Midwest, you probably ran a dehumidifier all summer long. Now’s the time to switch it out for a humidifier to keep naturally dry winter air moist and comfortable.

A whole-house humidifier provides the best results. It hooks up to the furnace and evenly adds just the right amount of moisture to every room in your home. By also attaching to your plumbing system, you never have to worry about adding water to a whole-house humidifier.

4. Tuck the Air Conditioner Away

If you have a central air conditioner, refrain from wrapping it with a tarp. This may seem like an effective way to protect it in the winter, but plastic doesn’t breathe. Any condensation that forms on the air conditioner could stick around long enough to cause mold growth or rust. Critters could also seek refuge under the tarp and cause damage by eating cables or wiring.

Instead, simply place boards weighed down with bricks on top of the A/C unit to prevent damage from falling icicles. Pack up window A/C units and cover wall-mounted systems in preparation for colder weather.

5. Install a Programmable Thermostat

If you don’t already have one, a programmable thermostat can have a significant impact on home comfort and energy bills. Fall is a great time to make the upgrade so you can enjoy maximum comfort and efficiency all winter long. Just remember to program the thermostat for energy savings. For instance, set it back 8 to 10 degrees when you’re at work during the day and again at night while the family’s asleep to save about 10 percent on your heating bills.

Schedule an HVAC Service Appointment in the St. Louis Area

If you live in the St. Louis, MO area and need help implementing these HVAC tips for fall, give us a call at 314-845-5900 or schedule a service call online. Our team is happy to help!