With another cold Winter coming up it is important to keep your heating and cooling system up to snuff. Is your system going to be reliable this Wintere ? If you are not sure, there are a few things you can do to get it that way. Here we will talk about inspecting your home heating and cooling system so you can stay comfortable and safe. You may need a flashlight to help you in this endeavor.




1) The first thing you will want to do is look at the ducts in your heating and cooling system. Are they connected together well ? If your ducts are under the house, an animal can dislodge one duct from another and cause a leak. If your ducts are in the attic, they should have the outer insulation intact. If you have the system running and you can feel air leaking from the connections in the ducts or in other places, seal the leak. Inspect the interior of the ducts if possible for dust. Not only is it a health hazard, it obstructs the flow of air.




2) Find out where the plenum is. It will be close to the furnace and the center of the heating and cooling unit. There is probably a filter in the plenum that should be clean or cleaned. The coil inside the plenum should also be clean. Dust and dirt on the coil are a major energy hog and safety hazard.




3) Take a look at the thermostat, even if it is digital one. Does it use batteries ? If so, replace them with fresh ones. It is cheap insurance. Imagine having to freeze on a cold Winter's night simply because you forgot to replace the batteries in the thermostat ! Look inside the housing of the thermostat to make sure no insects or dust have accumulated in it.




4) The cooling unit is outside and needs to be inspected next. Look for grass or brush clogging the free flow of air into the coils of the machine. Has anything made its way inside the coils ? Inspect the whole machine for anything out of the ordinary. A clean coil is an asset to your energy saving goals.




5) Inspect the wire and electrical connections of your heating and cooling system. They should be clean, tight, and new looking. Corrosion on electrical connections is a safety hazard. The connections outside should be checked with special care. Insects and rodents are more likely to bother your electrical connections outside the house.




All machines wear out with use and your heating and cooling system are no different. Make a maintenance schedule to go with your system and you will have much less reason to worry about being hot in the Summer or cold in the Winter. It will save you money in the long run by being more efficient.