› |
Clean
or replace furnace filters. Dirty filters
slow air-flow through your HVAC system
making it work harder and costing you more
money. |
› |
Check manufacturer's maintenance
instructions to make sure your furnace and
heat pump are in best working order and have
your HVAC system serviced if it has been
over a year. Keep your outdoor unit free
of debris from fallen leaves or overgrown
shrubbery. |
› |
Clean registers, baseboard
heaters, and radiators. Make sure furniture,
carpeting or drapes does not block their
air-flow or pose a fire hazard. |
› |
Close the vents to the
crawlspace of your home in the fall to prevent
cool air from penetrating under your house. |
› |
Caulk and seal air leaks
where plumbing, ducting or electrical wiring
penetrate exterior walls, floors and ceilings. |
› |
Test your home for air
tightness. On a windy day, hold a lit incense
stick next to your windows, doors, electrical
boxes, plumbing fixtures, electrical outlets,
ceiling fixtures and other locations on exterior
walls. If the smoke moves sideways, you have
located an air leak that may need caulking,
sealing or weather-stripping. |
› |
Check
your ductwork for leaks and sections that
may have separated. Secure the connections
with mechanical fasteners such as sheet
metal screws. Seal the joints with duct
mastic or butyl rubber tape. |
