How Can You Prepare Your HVAC System For Back To School?  

Sep 16, 2022 | Air Filter, Back-to-school, Blog, Dayton, Fall, Fall preparation, Five Star, HVAC, iWave-R, OH, Thermostat, Viruses

Lunchboxes, school projects, early morning routines – these are all just several things that come to our minds when we think of “back to school.” For many, this time of the year is bittersweet. While for others, the back-to-school season signifies a bit of freedom. No judgment from us either way, no matter how you feel about it! Everyone has a different routine and schedule they have to adhere to. And when school is back in session, this means a new routine is underway! This time of the year can be chaotic, with all kinds of preparations required. However, transitioning from summer to fall doesn’t have to be stressful – at least with your HVAC system. Yes, you heard that right. Even your HVAC system needs to be prepped for the fall transition. The last thing you need is your furnace to cause problems for you as you head into the back-to-school season! Luckily, your Five Star Heating & Cooling Dayton experts are here to guide you and help alleviate any unnecessary stress as you tackle this new school year head-on.  

1. Did You Check & Change the Air Filter?   

Number one: Don’t underestimate how important the air filter is. It may be small, but it is essential for your HVAC system. Its purpose is to keep dust particles, loose debris, and airborne pollutants from infiltrating the rest of your house. With fall having arrived, fall germs are inevitable! So, the best thing you can do is stay ready and be proactive. Before the fall season really kicks into high gear, it would not be a bad idea to go ahead and change your air filter ahead of time. Our highly-trained technicians say that air filters should be changed every 1-2 months, so take it from us and get that air filter switched out beforehand! Starting the back-to-school season off with a clean slate is always a good idea!  

2. Did You Consider Using a Home Purification System?   

Number two: If you still have those pesky, unwanted germs on your mind, we have the answer for you! Have you ever considered utilizing a home air purification system? If this has already been something on your mind, then now is the perfect time to jump on it! With the cooler weather just around the corner, airborne viruses and sickness will be relentless. Unfortunately, you may be unable to control the germs you and your family are exposed to when you are away from home. But you can stop germs and bacteria from manifesting in your home by using a good air purifier like the iWave-R. The iWave-R is a home air purification that is used together with your residential HVAC system. One great benefit of it is that it is an autonomous self-cleaning system! Sounds great, right? The iWave-R uses needlepoint ionization to eradicate airborne bacteria and viruses. Furthermore, it has a high success rate of 99.4%. If this is interesting to you, feel free to call us for more information!   

3. Did You Clean Your Registers & Ductwork?   

Next, number three: Think about your ductwork! The air ducts and registers in your house are the channels used to circulate air within your home. It’s crucial these parts are kept clear of dust buildup, so they don’t block the air from being distributed throughout your house. Filthy air ducts will only result in your HVAC system overworking itself, which can cause system issues and a shorter system lifespan.   

In order to get your air ducts and registers ready for this fall transition, you should walk through your house to check each register and clean them if necessary. Registers should be left open and have no items or obstructions blocking them. In addition, if you discover that the registers have dust piles, you may clean them off with the hose from your vacuum. And if they need to be wiped, it is fine to use a mixture of warm water and gentle soap. Just make sure the cleaning rag is not super-soaked; a damp cloth will do the job just fine.    

4. Did You Program Your Thermostat For Your New Back-to-School Routine?   

Moving on to number four: It’s safe to assume that you likely won’t use the same temperature in your home in the fall time as you would in the summer. However, the weather is changing outside, so you will need to adjust your thermostat settings to accommodate the temperature difference. In addition, your whole household will most likely be on a new schedule. So, if you have school-aged kids or older college-aged kids, there will be fewer bodies in the house in the daytime. Ultimately, your HVAC system will now not need to work as hard with fewer bodies in the home. Therefore, it would be wise to reset your smart thermostat or programmable thermostat to correlate with the times no one will be in the house. When you do this, it will lead to lower energy consumption, which leads to energy savings. If you don’t have a smart or programmable thermostat, no problem! We can help you choose one and install it for you! The great news is that these modern thermostats are affordable and energy-efficient ways to maximize your HVAC system’s efficiency. Call us if you’d like more information!  

5. Did You Call To Book Your Fall HVAC Maintenance Appointment?   

Lastly, number five: Don’t forget your fall tune-up and safety check. Fall is a busy season. But your furnace still needs to be serviced once a year in the fall. Doing this will ensure that your furnace is still in working condition and that everything is functioning correctly per current safety regulations. Just as you frequently have your vehicle serviced, you should do the same for your HVAC system as it is a complex piece of machinery. Preventative maintenance is key in preventing the possibility of bigger, more significant issues occurring.  

On top of that, if you need another reason to convince you, keeping up with your seasonal maintenance checks keeps your manufacturer’s warranty active. To make it even better, booking your fall maintenance check with us is a breeze! We make it a painless and straightforward process!  

Five Star Heating & Cooling Dayton is a local, family-owned company that you can rely on! All our technicians are NATE-certified, and we have years of accumulated experience. So, if you have any questions, we would be happy to answer them for you! Whether you want to book your fall maintenance appointment with us or would like more information about the iWave-R, or perhaps want to upgrade your thermostat, you can call us for any of your HVAC needs! Reach us at (937) 708-8278, or schedule an appointment online now by clicking here! And last of all, before we forget to say so, we wish you and your family a great school year!