Your Mid-Winter HVAC Maintenance Checklist

9 February 2021
 Categories: , Blog

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If you're like most homeowners, you probably took a quick glance at your HVAC system in late fall, prior to the arrival of the winter season. You may have wanted to check that your heating system was ready to go for the cold months ahead. But if your HVAC system has been getting a workout this winter, it's probably not a great idea to hold off on your next maintenance check-up until the spring. The last thing you want to happen is to have something break down while the winter season is still going on. For the best results, you should check in on your HVAC system and perform a few basic maintenance tasks at least once or twice during the winter season. Here are some tips to keep in mind.

Swap Out Your Filter or Wash It

If it's been especially cold in your area and you know your HVAC system has remained running for most of the season, chances are good that the air filter you put in at the start of winter is now getting a bit clogged. Grab a new filter and swap it in, or take the time to wash your reusable filter if you have one. A clean air filter will allow your HVAC system to run more efficiently and perhaps even turn itself off more frequently, and thanks to that efficiency, you can reduce wear and tear on the entire system.

Vacuum Your Air Ducts

Over the course of a long winter, all of that wonderful heat your HVAC system pumps out will have to travel through your home's air ducts in order to get through your vents and into your living space. But just like the rest of your home, your air ducts can accumulate dust and debris over time. This could come in the form of pet hair or other gunk that you don't even realize is circulating in the air. While it may be best to have a professional HVAC technician clean your air ducts if you haven't had this done in a long time, you can also do some light vacuuming yourself if you are up to it. Take the grate or covering off all of your vents and stick a vacuum cleaner's long arm attachment down into the vent and the air duct itself. Be gentle, as you don't want to damage the duct, but you may be able to vacuum up at least a little bit of dust and debris that you didn't even know was there.

For more information about HVAC maintenance, contact a local HVAC contractor.