Most people living in the Phoenix Valley welcome the fall season. Whether it’s due to the fact that temperatures steadily fall into a nice comfort zone, or that fall offers several great opportunities to explore the outdoors, it’s always a great time of year. However, did you know that the fall season is also a great time to prepare your HVAC cooling system in Scottsdale for the winter? Actually, did you know that you should have your cooling system prepared for winter in the first place?
If not, here are a few practical tips that will help you prepare your cooling system for a nice winter break and ensure that when you turn it back on in spring, it won’t break the bank.
Tip #1 – Have Your Cooling System Professionally Inspected
The first thing that any home or business owner should do to prepare their cooling system for winter is to have a routine service call scheduled before it gets too cold outside. Most cooling systems in Arizona are self-contained, central air units that don’t require a lot of ‘winterizing‘. However, there are a few things that the routine inspection will determine that will impact how your cooling unit works in the hot summer the following year including:
- A routine inspection will be able to diagnose major problems early. Typically, cooling systems will work very efficiently, however, from time to time, small issues pop up. And if a professional HVAC service expert can diagnose and fix a smaller issue, it can and often does save home owners a ton of money in the long term.
- Routine inspections will also examine the overall operation of your HVAC system. This means, if a problem is found with any component that will impact the performance of your heating system, again it can be fixed before it becomes a major issue.
Tip #2 – Change Your Filters
One thing that any home or business owner can do themselves is to change their filters out. Since we live and work in the desert, it’s always advised to have your filters changed at least every 60-days. And remember, your indoor filters also impact the efficiency of your heating system as well – so stay on top of this routine maintenance program all year.
Tip #3 – Update the Thermostat
If you have an older thermostat, the fall season can be a great time to replace it with a newer, more user friendly programmable thermostat. The cooling and heating system both depend on the efficient operation of your thermostat. By taking the proactive step to replace your thermostat when you’re preparing your AC system for winter, you’ll also be preparing your heating unit for winter at the same time.
Plus, programmable thermostats offer home and business owners much more freedom to streamline the comfort level during the entire year. This can save you money on monthly utility bills all year long.
Tip #4 – Have Your Ducts Cleaned
Finally, the last step to take that will not only help your cooling system be prepared for winter, but also will increase the efficiency of your heating unit is to have your ducts cleaned and inspected for any leaks. According to the US Department of Energy, most homes and businesses experience most of their energy loss due to leaking, dirty or inefficient ductwork. When you have the ductwork cleaned and sealed during the fall, you’ll be preparing your AC system for efficient operation when it’s turned on again – but also preparing your heating unit for solid operation.
As you can see, even though many cooling systems in Scottsdale are not directly attached to heating elements, they both use several of the same components. Take time to contact a professional HVAC contractor to have your AC system inspected before winter. You’ll not only save money in the long run, but also help improve the performance and efficiency of the entire comfort system.
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Discover Scottsdale Air Heating & Cooling’s fall service specials so you can be ready for the cooler winter weather. Call Scottsdale Air at 480.359.7141 get your HVAC unit ready for winter!
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