As colder weather sets in, your needs at home completely switch from cooling to heating. For the ensuing months of cold temperatures, homeowners need sufficient access to heating. That can be thrown for a loop when your home’s furnace encounters issues during these select few months.

By scheduling furnace maintenance this fall with Mullin Plumbing, your home’s furnace will be ready more than ever to provide the heating you need.

How Can I Tell If My HVAC System Needs Maintenance?

Homeowners should schedule HVAC maintenance at least two times a year. Even if there are no apparent problems with your HVAC system, biannual HVAC maintenance will prepare your home for the heating and cooling season. Furnace maintenance in the fall also helps prevent issues from spiraling out of control.

Essential Fall HVAC Maintenance Tasks

Here are some essential HVAC maintenance tasks to prioritize this fall:

Replacing Filters and Cleaning Vents

Among some of the most important fall HVAC maintenance tasks is replacing air filters. When filters are dirty and clogged with debris, airflow becomes restricted and forces the system to work harder than normal. This can cause the system to overheat and malfunction, leaving you without sufficient heat. You might also see higher numbers on your monthly bill.

For the same reasons, it’s important to clean your home’s vents and registers. Clean vents and registers free of debris help maintain a consistent airflow, boost efficiency, and keep your home’s indoor air quality at a healthy level.

Checking and Sealing Ductwork

Do a thorough inspection of your home’s ductwork. Cracks or poorly sealed areas are common reasons for leaky air ducts. Leaky ductwork leads to a lack of system efficiency and wasted energy you’re still paying for. If your home’s ductwork is drafty, make sure to seal it.

Inspecting Heating Components

Make it a priority to inspect your home’s heating components as a part of your fall furnace maintenance checklist. Inspect the heat exchanger for cracks or visible damage, add lubricant to moving parts, and check the heat pump for its refrigerant levels. Like other aspects of furnace maintenance, these tasks maintain a safe and efficient heating system.

Outdoor Unit Care

Outdoor unit care is just as important as indoor unit care. Inspect your home’s outside unit for visible signs of damage, excessive debris, and objects that are too close to the unit. For fall and onward, making sure your outdoor unit is prepped is especially important.

7 Benefits of Scheduling Furnace Maintenance in the Fall

Scheduling furnace maintenance this fall may just seem like another pesky task on top of your other responsibilities. The fact is, fall furnace maintenance isn’t only essential, it’s also beneficial. Here’s why:

1. Keeps Your Family Warm During The Winter

Staying warm all winter long isn’t just important, it’s a necessity. Fall furnace maintenance with our team of experts at Mullin Plumbing makes sure those needs are met. After your scheduled furnace maintenance service, you can enjoy desired heating all winter long, keeping your family warm when it’s frigid outside. 

2. Reduces Energy Bills

A properly maintained furnace is going to wield higher levels of energy efficiency. That’s why once you’ve scheduled your fall furnace maintenance appointment, your home’s furnace will be as efficient as ever. A more energy-efficient furnace can save up to 30% on heating costs, leading to a reduction in your energy bills. 

3. Maintains Good Air Quality

The typical fall furnace maintenance checklist includes the cleaning and replacement of several core components. By replacing dirty or clogged furnace filters and cleaning your home’s ductwork, the spread of pollutants and allergens within your home’s indoor environment significantly decreases. Furnace maintenance is a key component in maintaining good air quality for your home. 

4. Prevents Breakdowns And Unnecessary Repairs

When our experts conduct your scheduled fall furnace maintenance, we’re able to catch issues quickly. Catching these problems when they are minor helps prevent a complete breakdown of your home’s furnace so you can avoid unnecessary and costly repairs down the road. 

5. Ensures The Safety Of Your Home

Since furnaces use combustion as a means of heating, the potential for a gas leak or carbon monoxide leak isn’t out of the realm of possibility. With a properly maintained furnace, potential risks are significantly minimized, protecting the safety of your home and family. 

6. Prolongs Furnace Lifespan

A furnace that hasn’t received needed maintenance over the years is probably harboring a fair amount of issues. When furnace issues are left unchecked, the unit’s lifespan takes a huge hit. With regularly scheduled fall furnace maintenance, its lifespan is going to be prolonged. Not only will you be able to enjoy the furnace’s optimal heating capabilities for longer, you’ll save money as well. 

7. Maintains Your Warranty

A quality furnace usually comes with a 10-year warranty. That said, it’s important to invest in home furnace maintenance to maintain your unit’s warranty. The lack of a maintenance program can lead to substantial issues that can void the unit’s warranty. 

When to Call a Professional for HVAC Maintenance

Almost as important as scheduling furnace maintenance itself is knowing when to call a professional.

Signs You Need Furnace Repair or Service

If you begin to notice these signs, it’s probably time for furnace repair or service. 

• Strange noises coming from the furnace
• Uneven heating in your home
• A sudden increase in your energy bills

Ignoring these signs may lead to more serious problems in the future. 

The Role of HVAC Technicians in Maintenance

HVAC technicians play an important role in maintaining your unit. They have access to the necessary tools and equipment, years of experience, and an eye to catch problems many homeowners can’t spot. Because of their extended HVAC knowledge, they can also offer valuable insight into models and other HVAC tips. 

DIY vs. Professional HVAC Maintenance

Simple DIY Maintenance Tips

While there are certain aspects of furnace maintenance (or HVAC maintenance in general) that are better left to the professionals, there are certain tasks to be done on your own. Changing your furnace filter once every three months and cleaning vents and registers are simple DIY maintenance tasks any homeowner can take on to benefit their HVAC performance. 

Tasks Best Left to the Pros

HVAC tasks such as these are better left to the pros: 

• Sealing ductwork
• Heat exchanger inspections
• Refrigerant level inspections for heat pumps
• Coil cleaning 
• EVAP cleaning 

Taking Action on Your Fall Furnace Maintenance

Make it a priority to schedule furnace maintenance from Mullin Plumbing this fall. Fall furnace maintenance from our team keeps your home heated and safe throughout the winter, energy efficient, and free of current and future problems. Contact us today and see the benefits of fall furnace maintenance. Looking for additional HVAC services like installation? Mullin Plumbing has you covered there as well in locations such as Broken Arrow, Bixby, Jenks, Owasso, and Tulsa, Oklahoma.