Time for Fall HVAC Maintenance!

Fall is here, and the changing colors around Charlottesville aren’t the only wonderful thing about it. Comfortably cool temperatures mean your HVAC system gets a break, and that translates to gloriously low energy bills. It also makes fall the perfect time for seasonal maintenance on your HVAC equipment.

Fitch Services will ensure your heat is raring to go when you need it and will check your cooling system to make sure your HVAC investment is protected throughout the winter months until the warm weather returns.

Even if you think your HVAC system is functioning well, a seasonal maintenance visit can prevent problems from arising when temperatures plummet. That’s also the time HVAC technicians are in high demand and hard to schedule.

Energy Star recommends HVAC technicians follow these steps in a typical maintenance check-up:

• Check thermostat settings to ensure the cooling and heating systems are functioning optimally. A properly functioning thermostat helps keep you and your family comfortable at home and saves energy when you’re away.
• Tighten all electrical connections and measure voltage and current on motors. Faulty electrical connections can cause unsafe operation of your system and reduce the life of major components.
• Lubricate all moving parts. A lack of lubrication causes friction in motors and increases the amount of electricity you use. That translates to a higher bill.
• Check and inspect the condensate drain in your central air conditioner, furnace and/or heat pump (when in cooling mode). Blocked drains cause water damage and higher than optimal indoor humidity.
• Check system controls to ensure proper and safe operation. Make sure the system starts, operates, and shuts off properly.

Heating Specific

• Check all gas (or oil) connections, gas pressure, burner combustion and heat exchanger. Improperly operating gas (or oil) connections are a fire hazard and can contribute to health problems. A dirty burner or cracked heat exchanger causes improper burner operation. Either can cause the equipment to operate less safely and efficiently.

Actions for Homeowners

• Inspect, clean, or change air filters once a month in your central air conditioner, furnace, and/or heat pump. Your contractor can show you how to do this. A dirty filter can increase energy costs and damage your equipment, leading to early failure.

Also recommended by HVAC professionals:

• Clean the outside unit of dirt and debris. If you use water, make sure to cut power to the unit.
• Clear brush, weeds, and branches in a four-foot area around the outside unit
• Cover the outside unit with plastic or a tarp. Complete this only after the unit has undergone maintenance, and secure the cover with rope or bungee cords.

Cooling Specific

• Clean evaporator and condenser air conditioning coils. Dirty coils reduce the system’s ability to cool your home and cause the system to run longer, increasing energy costs and reducing the life of the equipment.
• Check your central air conditioner’s refrigerant level and adjust if necessary. Too much or too little refrigerant will make your system less efficient, increasing energy costs and reducing the life of the equipment.
• Clean and adjust blower components to provide proper system airflow for greater comfort levels. Airflow problems can reduce your system’s efficiency by up to 15 percent.

Contact Us Today for HVAC Maintenance

The HVAC professionals at Fitch Services handle it all for you and service every brand. Prepare your HVAC system to function well all winter with seasonal maintenance. Call 434-296-9980 to schedule an appointment today.

Photo by Daiga Ellaby on Unsplash