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As the seasons change, so do the maintenance requirements for your home. Caring for the HVAC system and preparing fixtures for cold weather help boost the efficiency of your home as the weather gets colder. Here are a few autumn maintenance tasks for your checklist to keep your family comfortable this fall.

How Can You Prepare Your Home for Fall?

1. Check for Air Leaks

Air leaks don't only make rooms drafty and uncomfortable; they also contribute to high heating costs. When heat seeps out of voids in the building envelope, the furnace works overtime to compensate for the loss. In fact, heat loss through windows accounts for 25% to 30% of the energy used to heat a home.

Weatherstripping windows and doors is a way to keep heat inside. Feel for drafty areas in floors and walls, too, as you can use caulk to seal holes and cracks in the surfaces. An HVAC service technician will seal gaps in ductwork to prevent heat from escaping into the voids of your house.

2. Check & Change the Air Filter

Your furnace's air filter traps dust and other airborne particles drawn into the return air intake grille. Central air conditioners and furnaces often share the same filter, which means the screen could be covered in grime from summer cooling. A clogged filter will affect furnace performance, which is why you should replace it at the beginning of fall. It is likely located in the return air duct or in the portion of the blower compartment where this duct meets the air handler.

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With a clean filter in place, air won't struggle to move through the system. The blower fan won't work harder to circulate air, which will save energy and keep heating costs lower. A clean filter can also trap allergens drawn into the system, preventing these particles from recirculating in living spaces and reducing the air quality.

3. Drain Outdoor Faucets

The weather will get colder as the season progresses, which is why outdoor faucets must be drained early in the season when temperatures are still mild. A plumber will turn off the water supply valve, remove the hoses and connections on outdoor faucets, turn the faucets on for a few minutes, and then turn them off again. Allowing the faucets to run forces water out of the pipes so they can't freeze and expand during the winter, causing pipes and fixtures to crack.

 

The technicians at Bryant Air Conditioning, Heating, Electrical & Plumbing in Lincoln, NE, will tend to your HVAC and plumbing needs this autumn. Since 1952, this BBB Integrity Award winning-company has been providing furnace repair, replacement, and plumbing solutions to help Lancaster County homeowners conserve energy and water for lower utility bills. Find out how these NATE-certified technicians will care for your heating system online, and call (402) 467-1111 for an estimate.

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