The weather in Florida is certainly nowhere near as extreme as what the northern states experience. However, there are some things you should do to prepare your HVAC system for the winter. This includes scheduling an annual inspection of your system as well as having professional maintenance performed. Routine maintenance is a great way to prolong the life of your system while preventing the need for repairs.
Thermostat Adjustments
As the days in Tampa, FL start to become shorter and colder, you’ll want to make some adjustments to your thermostat. This will minimize the amount of strain put on your HVAC system and boost efficiency. As it starts to get cooler outside, take advantage of the nicer weather by opening windows and doors for a bit. You can adjust your thermostat to a higher temperature, so your air conditioning equipment doesn’t have to run as frequently. There are also programmable smart thermostats that can automate these changes for you.
If a warm spell comes through, make sure you don’t adjust your thermostat back down too quickly. This can place unnecessary strain on your air conditioning equipment.
You can set a schedule for your thermostat that will promote comfort in your home while also boosting system efficiency. Most thermostats have this function. During the times of the day that you’re normally home, set your interior temperature to a comfortable degree. If you’re going to be away from home for several hours for work, you can adjust the temperature to minimize HVAC system run time. The temperature can come back to a more comfortable setting before your arrival back home. Just make sure that you don’t allow your home to get too hot or cold at any point in time.
If you don’t have a smart thermostat installed in your home, consider having our team perform an upgrade for you. There are a lot of great features that a smart thermostat provides that can boost convenience and energy efficiency. There are several rebates and incentives that can offset the cost of a new thermostat as well.
Change Your Furnace Filter
Most HVAC filters need to be replaced once every 30 to 90 days. How frequently you change your filter will depend on the type of filter you have, how often you run your HVAC system, the area where you live, whether you have pets, etc. If you’ve been experiencing frequent runtime, you may want to check your filter more regularly.
Neglecting to change your filter can cause damage to your HVAC system. It can also decrease the quality of your indoor air by increasing the number of contaminants that are in the air you breathe each day. This can increase allergy symptoms such as itchy eyes, coughing, stuffy nose, asthma attacks, headaches, and more.
If you have a washable furnace filter, make sure you remove it and clean it prior to the start of winter. Just make sure that you let the filter completely dry before you place it back into your system. Otherwise, you could cause internal damage or even mold growth. Inspect your reusable filter for any signs of damage. If the filter is torn, bent, or isn’t completely clean, it’s time to invest in a new one. Filters in your air purification equipment should also be changed as you prepare your HVAC system for winter.
Cleaning the Interior of Your HVAC System
There are many internal components of your HVAC system that can experience particulate buildup over time. Professional routine maintenance includes the cleaning of these components. This process allows us to inspect these components to see if they need repair. This includes things like coils, fan blades, motors, casings, etc.
You can also add on a cleaning service for your ductwork. We recommend that you have this performed once every few years. You may need to clean more frequently if you have pets in the home, someone in the home smokes, or you have recently had remodeling work done that stirred up a lot of dust.
Ductwork Inspections
While it’s not typically part of routine maintenance, it’s important to have your ductwork inspected regularly. This is an important part of your HVAC system that is used to deliver conditioned air to the various living spaces in your home. If any damage is present, this can reduce efficiency, create hot or cold spots in your home, and lead to equipment damage.
Ductwork damage can occur because of several causes. If you have any pests that have made their way into your ductwork, they can often create quite a mess. They can also damage the interior of your ductwork.
Regular wear and tear of your ductwork is common as this system ages. Ductwork typically lasts for about 10 to 15 years. You may get more time from your current ductwork if you keep up with routine maintenance and repairs.
If humidity levels in your home aren’t kept between 35% and 50%, this can lead to issues with your ductwork, too. High levels of relative humidity can cause mold to grow in your ducts. This is damaging to your HVAC system as well as your health.
If you’ve recently had remodeling work done on your home, damage may have occurred to your ductwork. Any kind of exterior damage can cause small cracks or gaps that allow conditioned air to escape.
Test Your Heating System
Before you need your heating equipment for those chilly Tampa nights, make sure you test it ahead of time. It’s better to find out there’s an issue with your system prior to the temperature in your home dropping. If you notice a bit of a dusty smell upon turning on your heat for the first time, this is perfectly normal. The smell should go away after a few minutes. There is simply a small accumulation of dust and debris on the interior components of your furnace that comes from not using your heating function all summer.
Servicing Your Outdoor Equipment
Your exterior air conditioning unit should be serviced as part of annual maintenance. We will check the area to make sure your unit is clear of any debris. Make sure that you regularly trim back any landscaping that may be too close to your condenser. We can also check the level of refrigerant in your condenser. If you have low levels of refrigerant, this can indicate an internal leak. This is dangerous to you and the environment. We recommend having a refrigerant leak repaired immediately.
If you would like to schedule winter maintenance for your HVAC system in the Tampa area, reach out to our team here at Ahoy! Cooling & Heating. In addition to routine maintenance, we also install and repair different types of heating and cooling equipment. We offer commercial services, maintenance plans, and address air quality concerns that you may have as well. This includes the performance of an indoor air quality assessment as well as installing whole-house purification and ventilation equipment. Contact Ahoy! Cooling & Heating today to find out more.
