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Heating Maintenance Tips| Local HVAC Experts

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HEATING MAINTENANCE TIPS FOR PHOENIX HOMES

NOV 13, 2017

Believe it or not, some people use their heater during the colder nights in Phoenix. While we are known for our extremely warm summer months, in the desert it can get relatively cold during the winter. If you are among the Phoenix area homeowners who plan on using it this winter, you will want to ensure the system is in its best possible condition ahead of the really cold months. While some maintenance requirements may vary depending on the type of heating system you have, there are some heating maintenance tips for Phoenix homeowners that are universal across types of heaters. Here are five things you should do before firing up the heater.

HVAC AND HEATING MAINTENANCE TIPS FOR PHOENIX HOMEOWNERS

CHECK THE THERMOSTAT

The thermostat is essentially the central nervous system of your HVAC system. Any list of heating maintenance tips would be remiss to not include this crucial element. Check to ensure that when you turn up your thermostat to an appropriate temperature, you hear the furnace kick on and that it stays on for at least three minutes. If it does not, it could be a sign that there is a problem with the thermostat or somewhere else in the HVAC system that needs professional attention.

Alternatively, if the system does not turn on at all when you adjust the thermostat, it would be worthwhile to test the thermostat yourself if you think you would be comfortable replacing a defective one and installing a new thermostat yourself, as that is likely the source of the problem. If you would rather have a professional handle the new thermostat installation, do not hesitate to call before testing the thermostat yourself — there is no job too big or too small for our technicians.

CHANGE YOUR AIR FILTER

Your HVAC filters need to be changed as frequently as they become visibly dirty. Because many homeowners forget to look at them on a regular basis, make a special point of ensuring you get a clean filter installed before you start using your heater. With the dusty monsoon weather that comes with Phoenix summers, it may be that the filter needs to be changed now more than ever.

INSPECT AND CLEAN REGISTERS

In addition to a thorough professional cleaning on an annual basis, do your part to keep the system working at its peak by keeping registers as clean as possible. Make a point of regularly dusting them and take some extra time ahead of the cold months to give them all a thorough cleaning.

HAVE DUCTWORK INSPECTED

On an annual basis, you should have all of the ductwork in your HVAC system inspected to ensure that you do not have any leaks, open joints, corroded ducts or mold anywhere. Doing this as part of winter is an addition to any list of home maintenance tips for Phoenix homeowners as any issues not addressed before using the heat consistently is likely to be amplified. Problems with your ductwork can contribute to poor air quality inside your home as well as energy inefficiency and larger utility bills at the end of every month.

SCHEDULE YOUR REGULAR MAINTENANCE

Regardless of what kind of HVAC system you have (probably a gas heat forced air system if you are in the Phoenix area), it should be checked out by a professional at least twice every year as part of your routine maintenance routine. During this visit, the technician can take a good look at your system, provide a thorough HVAC tune up and give specific heating maintenance tips for Phoenix homeowners based on their specific system, home layout and more.

Over the course of the tune up, the technician will be checking out multiple things simultaneously, including a check of the amp drawer, inspection all moving parts and addressing any deficiencies in the system. Homeowners will reap rewards from this exercise by increasing their overall energy efficiency while at the same time maximizing the lifespan of their HVAC system and setting themselves up to have a functioning system for years to come. The HVAC tune up is probably the most important thing homeowners can do to be proactive about the condition of their HVAC system — one of the most crucial and expensive systems in your entire home.

If you are ready to let us install a new thermostat for you, you want schedule your HVAC tune up or maybe even take care of both items at once, give us a call today to schedule an appointment. Same day appointments are available and our technicians will provide you with even more HVAC maintenance tips while at your home. Numerous variables can impact the efficiency of your heating system, meaning that in addition to the universal HVAC maintenance tips in the article above, we may be able to recommend specific steps you can take to maximize the lifespan and performance of your system.