Fall HVAC Maintenance: Your Essential Checklist for a Trouble-Free Winter

Winter is coming, as a certain show likes to point out, but it takes its time getting there. That said, the warm summer days eventually fade, only to be replaced by the promise of cooler temperatures and the eventual deep chill of winter. Before you retreat into the cozy comfort of your home for the season, it’s crucial to turn your attention to the unsung hero of your household's comfort: your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system. After a long season of battling summer heat, your system needs a little maintenance to prepare for the demanding job of keeping you warm all winter.

Knowing how to troubleshoot problems with your AC is always prudent, but your heater or furnace needs the same kind of care too. Undertaking some fall HVAC maintenance is a proactive step that ensures your home remains warm and safe when the first snowflakes begin to fall. But taking care of your HVAC system isn’t just a matter of comfort; it's also about ensuring efficiency, looking after your air quality, and giving yourself some peace of mind before it gets cold. Neglecting this annual maintenance is like setting off on a long winter road trip without checking your vehicle's engine or tires (not a great idea, put succinctly). However, by following a simple checklist, you can prevent inconvenient and costly mid-winter breakdowns, and ensure your furnace or heat pump operates reliably and safely when you need it most. This guide provides an essential enumeration of some of those essential tasks to prepare your HVAC system for its winter duties.

The Importance of a Seasonal Transition

Your HVAC system works hard year-round, but the transition period from cooling to heating is a particularly critical time. Throughout the summer, your air conditioner has been running for months, accumulating dust and debris and putting constant strain on its mechanical components. Now, you’re about to ask a different part of that system (i.e. the furnace) to fire up after a long period of dormancy. This switchover can reveal underlying issues that developed over the summer or were simply lying in wait.

Imagine asking a marathon runner to immediately start a weightlifting competition without any rest or preparation. That’s akin to what we ask of our HVAC systems. Dust and grime can clog critical parts, electrical connections can loosen, and mechanical parts can become worn. Addressing these minor issues in the temperate weather of fall is far preferable to dealing with a complete system failure during a deep freeze in the middle of winter, when your family’s comfort and safety are on the line and emergency service calls are at a premium. Fall maintenance is a golden opportunity to clean, inspect, and prime the system for a seamless and efficient performance long before winter makes that heating such a critical need.

Your Essential Fall Maintenance Checklist

Embarking on a few key maintenance tasks can make all the difference for your system. Some of these steps are simple do-it-yourself jobs, while others are best left to a professional. Here is an essential list of steps to get your system ready for the cold months ahead.

1. Change or Clean Your Air Filter

Inspecting your air filter is arguably the single most important and easiest task a homeowner can perform. The air filter in your furnace is primarily there to filter the air (naturally). This means it traps dust, pollen, pet dander, and other airborne particles, preventing them from circulating in your air and gunking up the sensitive internal components of your HVAC system.

Like any other component, the filter does need maintenance from time to time. Over time, it can get clogged with all the particles it filters out of your air. This buildup of dust can severely restrict airflow, forcing the furnace’s blower motor to work much harder to push air through your home’s ductwork. This strain leads to reduced energy efficiency (which translates directly to higher heating bills). It also diminishes your home’s indoor air quality and can cause the furnace to overheat, potentially tripping a safety limit switch or even causing permanent damage to the heat exchanger. 

To change the filter, locate the filter slot on your furnace (usually a thin door on the side or bottom), slide the old filter out, note the size printed on its frame, and slide a new one in, making sure the airflow arrows point in the correct direction (towards the furnace). If you have a washable filter, follow the manufacturer’s instructions for cleaning, which typically involves a gentle rinse and complete drying before reinsertion. Make a habit of checking on your air filter every month, and replace or clean it at least every three months. It might also be a good idea to take a look around for the most effective filter for your unit to improve efficiency and minimize your costs while you’re at it.

2. Clean Around Your Outdoor Unit

If you have a central air conditioner or a heat pump, your system also includes a large outdoor condenser unit. Although you'll be using the furnace for heat, this outdoor unit needs to be prepped for its winter hibernation. Throughout the summer and fall, it has likely become a magnet for leaves, twigs, grass clippings, and dirt. This debris can restrict airflow, but more importantly, it can trap moisture against the unit's metal fins and casing (promoting rust and corrosion).

Before you begin, ensure the power to the unit is turned off at the main electrical panel or the outdoor disconnect switch. Gently clear away any vegetation or debris, ensuring there is at least one metre of clear space around the entire unit. You can use a garden hose on a gentle setting to spray down the fins and wash away accumulated grime. For winter, consider a purpose-built cover that protects only the top of the unit from falling ice and snow while leaving the sides open. Avoid shrink-wrapping the entire unit in a plastic tarp, as this traps moisture and can create a cozy home for rodents, who may chew on the wiring.

3. Inspect and Clear Vents and Registers

Your furnace can be working perfectly, but if the warm air it produces can’t get into your rooms, you'll have cold spots, indicating an inefficiency somewhere in the system. Take a walk through your entire home and check every single supply and return air vent. It’s common for them to be inadvertently blocked by furniture that was shifted over the summer, a newly placed area rug, or long drapes. Ensure every vent is completely unobstructed to allow for balanced airflow throughout your spaces. While you’re there, use a vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment or a damp cloth to clean the vent covers, removing the dust that has settled on the grilles. This simple step helps improve air circulation and indoor air quality.

4. Test Your Thermostat

The thermostat is the command centre of your HVAC system, and issues with it are a common cause for problems with your heating. Before deciding you’re in the market for a new thermostat (and preferably a quality smart thermostat for that matter) , it’s wise to make sure it's communicating properly with the furnace first. The test is simple: switch the thermostat's system mode from "Cool" to "Heat." Then, turn the temperature setting up to about five degrees Celsius higher than the current room temperature. You should hear a distinct click, followed by the sound of your furnace kicking on within a minute or two. If nothing happens, the first thing to check is the thermostat's batteries. Many modern digital thermostats require them, and dead batteries are a common cause of a non-responsive system. If fresh batteries don’t solve the problem, you may need to call a professional.

5. Schedule Professional Maintenance

While tackling some tasks yourself is normal behaviour for any responsible homeowner, sometimes you need a comprehensive tune-up from a qualified and certified HVAC technician to handle the more complex tasks you can’t finish yourself. A professional has the tools, training, and expertise to inspect, clean, and service the intricate inner workings of your furnace, ensuring it runs safely and at peak efficiency.

During a professional tune-up, a technician will perform a detailed series of checks that a homeowner cannot, such as:

• Inspecting the heat exchanger for cracks or corrosion, which could lead to a dangerous carbon monoxide leak.

• Cleaning and adjusting the furnace burners to ensure clean, efficient combustion and a proper blue flame.

• Checking and tightening all electrical connections to prevent future failures.

• Lubricating all moving parts, such as the blower motor, to reduce friction and wear.

• Testing the system’s safety controls and limit switches.

• Verifying the thermostat is calibrated correctly and functioning as it should.

• Checking the gas pressure and testing for any gas leaks.

Think of this professional service as an annual physical, but for your furnace. It’s a vital investment in your family’s safety and comfort, and the longevity of your equipment, helping to catch small problems before they become major, expensive emergencies.

Dedicating a little time to preparing your HVAC system as early as this fall goes a long way toward making this winter a worry-free one. By going through this checklist, you’ve helped ensure that when the temperature plummets, your home will remain the warm, comfortable, and safe haven it’s meant to be. Don’t wait for the first frost to start fussing over your heating system; be proactive about it and give your HVAC system the TC it deserves right now.

When you need a reliable helping hand to assist you with your HVAC system, then give JLN HVAC a call; we provide full maintenance services for your system. Whether it’s your furnace or your AC that needs care, we’re here to provide what’s needed. Call us now at (647) 696-8915 to get the help you need to get your HVAC system working as intended.