Traverse City Guide To Energy Efficient HVAC Maintenance All Year Round

Traverse City homeowners know the importance of a reliable HVAC system. Some cool winters or cold winters to warm summers, energy, efficient HVAC maintenance is crucial. Proper upkeep, reduces energy bills, improves, comfort and extends your systems life. We will cover the essential HVAC maintenance steps for every season to keep your Home comfortable and efficient.

Start with a regular filter change 

Changing your HVAC filters, regularly is essential for the energy, efficiency and air quality. A dirty filter will restrict airflow, forcing your system to work harder. This will raise energy cost, and put strain on your system.

Tip: replace your filter at at least every three months, especially during heavy use seasons, like summer and winter.

Schedule an annual professional inspection 

Professional inspections keep your HVAC system, running efficiently by identifying and addressing minor issues before they worsen. Perform crucial maintenance tasks, such as cleaning internal components, checking, refrigerant levels and inspecting your thermostat. 

Pro tip: schedule heating inspections in the fall and cooling inspections in the spring for optimal timing.

Clean vents and registers 

Dirty air vents reduce efficiency and decrease indoor air quality. Cleaning vents and registers booster airflow and radishes to strain on your HVAC system. Dust and debris often, accumulates blocking airflow and making your HVAC system work harder than it has too. 

DIY tip: use a vacuum with a brush attachment to remove dust and debris from accessible vents.

Check and seal air ducts 

Leaky air ducts will reduce efficiency by allowing warm or cold air to escape before it reaches your rooms. Ceiling ducts helps, maintain consistent temperatures and reduce energy loss, keeping your home comfortable with less energy.

Tip: inspect ducks for visible leaks, and seal them with metal backed tape or sealant.

Optimize your thermostat settings by season

Setting your thermostat correctly, saves energy and reduces costs. In the winter, keeping the thermostat around 68° when you are home and lower when you are away and then in the summer Saturday at 78° when you are home and adjust as needed for comfort.

Upgrade tip: consider a programmable thermostat or a smart thermostat to adjust settings automatically based on your schedule.

Keep the outdoor unit, clean and clear

The outdoor unit is exposed to dirt, leaves and debris that can block airflow. Clearing any obstruction around it and cleaning the coil for better efficiency.

Seasonal tip: check the outdoor unit for debris each season, especially in the spring and the fall when the leaves and dirt accumulates. 

Reverse your stealing fans each season

Ceiling fans are an easy way to support your HVAC system efficiency. Set fans to rotate counterclockwise in the summer, creating a cooling effect. In the winter, reverse the direction to clockwise, pushing warm air down for better circulation.

Energy saving tip: use ceiling fans to reduce the HVAC workload, allowing you to adjust the thermostat for energy savings.

Install weather-stripping and insulation

Proper insulation reduces energy cost by keeping warm or cool air inside your home. Weather-stripping around your doors and windows also helps prevent drafts, which keeps your HVAC system from overworking.

Efficiency tip: seal gaps and add insulation to your attic and basement for bedroom temperature control year-round.

Seasonal HVAC maintenance checklist for Traverse City homeowners

Here’s a breakdown of the essential tasks for each season. 

Spring maintenance

• Schedule an AC tuneup a professional inspection and cleaning your air conditioning unit before the summer season.
• Check refrigerant levels ensure that the system has their correct refrigerant levels for efficient cooling. 
• Clear the outdoor unit remove leaves, branches, or dirt that may have collected over the winter.

Summer maintenance

• Set the thermostat for efficiency keep it at 78° one home and consider a programmable thermostat for energy savings.
• Inspect and clean air vents dust, and vacuum vents to maintain good airflow.
• Use ceiling fans set them to counterclockwise to create a cooling effect. 

Fall Maintenance

• Schedule a heating tuneup prepare for winter weather, professional furnace, inspection, and cleaning. 
• Change the furnace filter, ensure a clean filter to reduce strain on the furnace. 
• Seal windows and doors install weatherstripping to prevent drafts. 

Winter maintenance

• Adjust thermostat for comfort keep it at 68°F while home and lower at night for savings.
• Reverse ceiling fan direction, set the fans to rotate clockwise to push the warm air downward.
• Clear snow around your outdoor unit if you have a sheet pump, clear snow around the outdoor unit to prevent airflow issues.

Additional energy, saving tips for Traverse City homeowners

• Use sunlight for natural heat in the winter. It is ideal to open up curtains on sunny days to let the warm thin, reducing the need for extra heating. Close the curtains and night to retain the warmth. 
• Close curtains during hot summer days sunlight sheets, your home, making your AC work harder. Close curtains, especially on the south facing windows duringpeak sun hours.
• Consider upgrading to an efficient AC unit or HVAC system if your system is over 10 years old and upgrade, can save you energy and reduce cost. New system use less energy and offer better performance, helping to keep your home comfortable with less strain.
• Perform regular DIY maintenance simple tasks like filter changes, cleaning vents, and clearing debris from outdoor units make a big difference in HVAC performance.

Year round comfort and savings

By following these seasonal HVAC maintenance tips, Traverse City homeowners can ensure energy efficiency, reducing cost and extending the systems life. Consistent care and professional tune-up. Keep your HVAC running smoothly, providing your round comfort without the high energy bills. Start incorporating these tips to enjoy cozy, efficient home every season. Don’t forget if you don’t live nearby you can also get HVAC maintenance in Lansing.