Winter is Coming, Is Your HVAC System Ready?

Locate all the vent and air exchange covers in your home and ensure they are free of dust and debris and are not blocked by furniture or large objects. This will help to keep dust from blowing around your home and also ensure proper airflow and consistent heat in each room.

Clean and/or replace your HVAC filters regularly (as often as is recommended by the furnace manufacturer or your Handyside HVAC expert). In many cases, you may be able to vacuum the filter every month (more often if you have pets) and replace the filter every 3-4 months.

Have your ducts cleaned regularly. Before winter is a great time to have them cleaned because the windows will be closed for winter so you won’t get new dust and debris coming in. Simultaneously, vacuuming your home can help eliminate any exterior dust, preventing it from recirculating within the ductwork.

Test your HVAC system before you need it! Run your system and listen for unusual sounds or smells.

You’ll want to do this for two reasons.

• First, you might notice a very slight burning smell as a small amount of dust burns off of the heating unit, so it’s nice to be able to open the windows and air that out. (Note: the burning smell should disappear quickly. If it persists or is very strong, shut your HVAC unit down and call your Handyside HVAC expert right away.)
• Second, testing your HVAC system before you need it means that if there is a problem, you can get it fixed right away instead of being uncomfortably cold while the system is being repaired!