At Ahoy! Cooling & Heating, we want to take the guesswork out of when the best time is for Tampa, FL, homeowners to have a check-up on their HVAC system. The simple answer is that the best time to have your heating tuned up is in the fall. Is there a particular reason for this time frame? Is having your HVAC system serviced at a certain time of the year preferable over another? Are there clear benefits to your system getting a check-up? We’ll answer these questions and more.
Avoiding the Winter Chill
One of the most important reasons for having a check-up performed on your system in the fall is for protection against the coming cooler months. Many homeowners wait to power up their heating on the first very cold day of the year, only to find that their heating unit isn’t operating properly. This can be uncomfortable and even potentially dangerous.
Cost Savings
Another reason to schedule a check-up in the fall is to make sure that your heating equipment is working efficiently. While your HVAC system may start up correctly and appear to be functioning properly, without having it looked at ahead of the winter, it’s hard to say for certain. A licensed technician can look at your equipment and make adjustments to ensure that it’s running at its peak efficiency. This will make your system last longer before a replacement is necessary and minimize the risk of costly repairs. A check-up may even cut down on your energy bill. A system running at its maximum efficiency takes less energy to operate.
The Benefit of Time
More often than not, all it will take to get your heating equipment prepped for the winter is a tune-up from a technician. Every once in a while, though, a scheduled check can reveal the need for a major repair. Thankfully, if you have a maintenance check performed in the fall, you have a bit more time to deal with the repair before inclement weather strikes.
Improved Indoor Air Quality
It probably goes without saying that, when the outside weather is at its worst, we tend to stay inside. It stands to reason, then, that during the winter you’re going to want to trust that your IAQ is healthy for you and your family. The EPA has found that pollutant levels inside homes can often be much greater than outside. This can be a health hazard, particularly for young children, the elderly, or those suffering from respiratory illnesses. By having a check-up performed on your heating equipment ahead of winter, you’re making a wise decision about the quality of the air you breathe when you stay indoors.
Prevention of Fires or Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
If the furnace section of your HVAC system burns fuel, that means you run the risk of a fire or carbon monoxide poisoning. You might not even realize there’s a problem until it’s too late. This is because carbon monoxide is an odorless and colorless gas. Exposure to the gas could bring on an array of dangerous symptoms and could even result in death. By having maintenance performed on your furnace in the fall, you can feel safe that your system is not at risk of a carbon monoxide leak or that there is any issue that could cause a fire.
What to Expect During a Fall Check-up
When a technician performs a check-up of your HVAC system before winter, some essential tasks should be performed. You can expect an inspection of the entire system for any signs of wear and tear. It’s also typical to have motors and other moving parts lubricated, internal components cleaned, safety systems tested, and filters cleaned or replaced.
Here is what happens during a fall maintenance check in greater detail:
Cleaning out internal components
It’s quite typical for your heating system to accumulate a lot of dust and debris during the months that it goes unused. This can wind up doing damage to your equipment over time. As part of a standard fall maintenance tune-up, one of our technicians will make sure that all of the internal components of your heater are meticulously cleaned.
Check filters
Your filters should be changed periodically in order to make sure that your system continues to operate at its optimal efficiency. It’s also important to have clean filters so that your airflow can reach you unencumbered by blockages. One task you can perform before your maintenance appointment is to check and clean or replace your air filter. You’ll likely need to change your filter every three months or more often if you have pets or someone in your home has respiratory issues.
Carbon Monoxide Detectors
During a check-up, you can count on a technician to test your carbon monoxide detectors to ensure that they’re in good working order.
Thermostat
Some systems use separate thermostats for cooling and heating. If that is the case in your home, there’s a good chance that your heating thermostat has not been tested since the prior cold season. If your thermostat requires testing, this will be done during a check-up as well.
Checking Gas Connections
An important safety check that is done during a fall maintenance tune-up is to ensure that all of your gas connections are secure.
Electrical Check
Damaged wiring can be extremely dangerous, as it can lead to a fire in your home, an explosion, or a breakdown. During a routine maintenance check, technicians inspect the electrical wiring so that you can be certain that all the system’s electrical connections are sound.
Inspection of the Heat Exchanger
If a heat exchanger is cracked or damaged, combustible products can enter your home through the vents. In order to make sure that your heat exchanger is operating safely, it is inspected during a check-up.
Lubrication of Moving Parts
Without lubrication, the moving parts of your heating system can’t do their job correctly. As part of a check-up, a licensed professional will make sure that all of the moving parts of your system are well-lubricated.
Running Your Heating System
As part of a routine maintenance visit, our technicians will give your heating system a test run, so that you’re confident that your system is ready for the winter.
Your Tampa HVAC System Check-up Team
At Ahoy! Cooling & Heating, we have been proudly serving Tampa and the surrounding areas for years. We offer the kind of trusted maintenance services that have made us the recipient of an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau. Any time one of our technicians enters your home for a maintenance check-up, they treat your home with the respect and care they would their very own. This is why so many customers come to us for their other HVAC needs as well, including repairs and installations.
To experience the best team in Tampa for your HVAC system check-up, give Ahoy! Cooling & Heating a call today.
