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How Can You Prepare Your HVAC System For Back To School? 

Sep 16, 2022 | Air Filter, Back-to-school, Blog, Cincinnati, Fall, Fall preparation, Five Star, HVAC, iWave-R, OH, Thermostat, Viruses

School lunches, homework, and waking up early are just some things that pop into our minds when we think of the back-to-school season. For many, this time of the year is a mixture of bitter and sweet. While for other people, it is the time of the year that allows for a bit more freedom. Whatever the case may be for you – no judgment over here! With school back in session, this means a new routine is on the horizon. The back-to-school season can be a bit chaotic, with everyone adjusting to new routines and getting on a new schedule. But transitioning from the summer to the fall doesn’t have to be overwhelming – at least not where your HVAC system is concerned. Yes, you read that right. Even your HVAC system should be prepared for the fall transition. The last thing you want is your heating system to cause issues for you as you brace yourself for the back-to-school season. Fortunately, your Five Star Heating & Cooling Cincinnati service professionals are here to direct you and help make this an easy process as you ring in a strong new school year!   

Ask yourself the following questions to make it a more straightforward process for you:

1. Was the Air Filter Changed?    

First of all, don’t undervalue the power of a clean air filter. Air filters are small but huge components of your HVAC system. They aim to keep loose dust particles, debris, and airborne contaminants from invading your home. Unfortunately, with fall finally here, fall germs will also be present! So, the best thing you can do as a homeowner is to be prepared and stay proactive. Therefore, before the fall season comes in full force, it would not be a bad idea to switch the air filter out ahead of time. Our highly trained technicians recommend air filters be changed every 30-60 days, so take our word for it and get that air filter changed ahead of time! Starting the back-to-school season off with a fresh, new slate is always an excellent idea!   

2. Were the Registers & Ducts Inspected/Cleaned?    

The air ducts and registers in your house are the passageways that are used to circulate the air produced from your HVAC system throughout your home. These pieces of your system must be kept free of dust and particle buildup. You don’t want buildup blocking the air from being properly distributed. This will not only cause issues for your system, but it can affect the air quality in your home, which can reap adverse effects on you and your family.  

Getting your ducts and registers ready for the fall transition is another step on our checklist of things to do before the new school year sets in. Allergens and build-up are likely to have occurred in the past season. So, before the next school year starts, we suggest performing a walk-through of your house so you can check every register and clean them if necessary. All registers should be left open, and no items or obstructions should be blocking them from distributing air. Additionally, if you happen to discover that the registers have layers of dust, they will need to be cleaned off. If you look inside your vents and see that there is a small pile of dust and loose debris, you may GENTLY vacuum it out with a vacuum. Registers may be cleaned with a mixture of warm water and soap. But take note to make sure the cleaning rag is not super-soaked; a sufficiently moist cloth will do the job just fine.   

3. Was the Thermostat Reset For Our New Routine?    

It’s likely that you won’t use the same temperature settings during the fall time as you use in the summertime. However, with the weather changing, the temperature will need to be changed to adjust to the change in weather. In addition, with school back in session, your household probably has a new schedule, which means there will be fewer bodies in the house in the daytime. Ultimately, your HVAC system will not need to work as strenuously with less people in the space. Therefore, it is wise to set your smart thermostat or programmable thermostat so that the new temperature correlates with the timeframes when no one is at home. This will lead to lower energy consumption, that in turn, leads to energy savings. If you don’t have a smart or programmable thermostat but have been thinking about investing in one – perfect! We can recommend the right model for you and get it installed! As a plus, these modern thermostats are affordable and come in a few options. Call us for more information!   

4. Did I Book Our Fall HVAC Maintenance Appointment?    

If you have not done so yet, you should get in touch with us as soon as possible to schedule your seasonal tune-up and safety check. Your furnace needs to be serviced once a year in the fall time. Our technicians are highly trained and are all NATE-certified; it is their job to ensure that everything is functioning appropriately and running according to current safety standards. Just as you take your vehicle in to get serviced, you should do the same for your HVAC system. Your residential HVAC system is a complicated piece of heavy machinery, so it must be regularly checked and tuned up. Furthermore, preventative maintenance is vital in keeping larger, more prominent issues from surfacing.   

On top of this, if you need more reasons to convince you, staying on top of your seasonal maintenance checks will keep your manufacturer’s warranty valid. But don’t worry; scheduling your fall maintenance check with us is painless and simple! We make it an easy and uncomplicated process. 

Five Star Heating & Cooling Cincinnati is a local, family-owned business you can trust! If you have any questions for us, we’d be happy to answer them for you! So, whether you want to get on the books for your fall maintenance appointment or perhaps are considering upgrading your thermostat, call us for any of your HVAC needs! You can contact us at (513) 216-5011 or schedule an appointment online now by clicking here! Oh, and before we forget, we hope you have the best and smoothest school year to date!