The Homeowner's Guide To Fall Maintenance - Part One

We may not want to admit it, but summer is over and fall is here. Cue the pumpkin-spiced everything, decorative hay bails, and raking duties. But before you pull out all of your knit sweaters and mini gourd decor from storage, it’s a good idea to start your fall home maintenance.

It’s important to do regular home maintenance throughout the year. This helps to ensure that everything is in good working order, helps you spot issues before they become big problems, extends the lifespan of all parts of your home, and saves you money in the long run.

We’ve broken down fall maintenance into two parts. So for part one of the homeowner’s guide to fall maintenance, keep reading!

Air Conditioner

It’s important to cover the top of your air conditioner to make sure that debris (like falling leaves) doesn’t get in and to protect the blades, once winter hits, from the weight of snow which can bend blades.

Furnace

Before the temperature drops completely you’re going to want to do a trial run with your furnace to make sure everything is working as it should. Make sure that you’re checking all of your registers to make sure that no furniture or drapes are blocking them. If your trail run fails and you’re not feeling any heat coming through, there are a couple of things to check for.

• First, double-check your thermostat settings. Make sure that it’s actually set to heat and that fan has bet set to auto

• Check to make sure that the furnace switch is actually on. This switch is usually on or near your furnace and can often look like an ordinary light switch, so sometimes they accidentally get turned off.

• Next, check the pilot light. If it’s out, then there’s your problem. Dig out your manufacturer’s instructions (or look it up online) and follow their steps to re-lighting the pilot. Make sure to read through the entire list of instructions before starting. You’re dealing with gas here, so you want to be safe.

• Make sure that the gas valve is in the “on” position. Even when following instructions on lighting the pilot light some people forget this step, but it’s an important one!

• If your furnace still isn’t working, check to make sure that the bottom panel of your furnace is in place. When it’s properly in place it holds in a button. If that button isn’t being held in by the panel, the furnace won’t operate.

• Finally, check the electric breaker to see if there are any tripped breakers. If there are, flip them all the way off and then all the way back on again.

Furnace Filter

Another part of your fall maintenance routine for your furnace is to clean or change the furnace filter. While you should be changing your filter every month or two, if you’ve forgotten to do it in a while, the changes of seasons is a good reminder to make sure to clean your filter.

Clogged filters not only cost you more money (because your furnace has to work harder to push the hair through the clogged filter) but also can cause cold spots in your home and mean more particles in the air for your family to breathe in.

If you have a changeable furnace filter, then we suggest buying your filters 6 months at a time so that when it comes time to change your filter you already have one on hand. You can buy furnace filters with smart tabs that talk with an app and let you know when the filter is too full and needs to be changed.

If your filter is one that is reusable, then you’ll need to clean your filter. To clean your furnace follow these steps:

• First, turn off the system. You don’t want dirt and debris to be flowing through your system when your filter is removed.

• Next, remove the filter. It should slide out easily.

• Remove any debris and wash clean in a sink or tub. Water itself usually does the job, but if your filter is especially dirty you can use mild dish soap on it and wipe it clean with a gentle sponge.

• Then allow the filter to dry completely.

• Once it’s completely dry, return it to the unit and turn your furnace back on.

Thermostat

Does it ever feel like your home feels hotter or colder than it says that it is? It could be that dirt is interfering with your thermostat’s calibration. It’s a good idea to clean your thermostat occasionally to make sure it stays in good working condition. And when your thermostat is in good working condition, then it will reduce your heating and cooling costs and will last longer.

To clean your thermostat

• Remove the cover and use a very soft brush (like a paintbrush) or compressed air to remove dirt or debris between the contact points and the lever switches.

• Check the wires (but do NOT touch them) to see if you spot any loose wiring or corroded spots. If so, it’s time to call an electrician.

• Check to see if the batteries need to be replaced, and do so if necessary.

• Finally, dust the cover of the thermostat and replace it back onto the unit

Remember when you’re cleaning your thermostat to NOT touch any part of the interior with your fingers.