How to Prepare Your HVAC System for Fall & Winter

Whether you feel ready for it or not, winter is coming to Utah. Even if it’s not a lot cooler where you live, you’ve probably noticed some changes. These changes mean that it’s not only time to mentally prepare for winter, but that it’s time to get your house ready, too. 

There are some things you can do to prepare for winter, as well as some things that you should have professionals help you with. Here’s what you need to know to stay warm this winter while keeping your St. George HVAC system efficient, too.

Maintenance Tasks for You

If you have used an air conditioner in St. George or Cedar City all summer, it needs some TLC before it’s ready for winter. These things will help keep it in great conditions so it’s more likely to work the way you need it to when you turn it on next summer. Here’s what you can do:

• Clean off the unit itself and gently remove dust and debris from the condenser coils
• Wrap any pipes you can see on the exterior of your home with foam, then duct tape
• Get rid of any vegetation within about four feet of the AC unit
• Cover your AC unit, either with a tarp that is secured or an AC-specific cover.

There are also a couple of small things you can do to get your St. George heater ready to work well for you this winter. 

• Use your vacuum to clear dust and debris from any visible vents
• Make sure you have plenty of furnace filters to get you through the winter. You will need to change them every 1-3 months.

After you do all of these things, it’s time to bring in your HVAC pros. There are a few maintenance tasks that they can do that may be difficult or impossible for you, unless you have a background in HVAC.

Maintenance Tasks for Your Favorite HVAC Pros in St. George

Your HVAC experts can also help you get your air conditioner ready to get through the winter. These tasks can be hard to do without previous HVAC experience. They should:

• Use special tools to further clean your coils
• Clear all of the pipes/drains connected to your AC unit
• Clean and check the whole AC system, including refrigerant levels, ducts, belts, pulleys, and more.

They can, of course, help you with your heater, too. Make sure they:

• Clean and check the entire furnace or other heating system. What they need to look at and test will depend on the type of system you have. They may also tell you what you can do over the winter to keep your system working well.
• Make sure your thermostat is working properly and, if necessary, recalibrate it. 

Call for St. George & Cedar City HVAC Help Today!

If you need help getting your HVAC in Cedar City or St. George ready for winter, call us at Thompson Plumbing and HVAC today. We’ll get you on our schedule so you can get your maintenance done in a timely manner. Stay warm this winter when you work with us!