Important Fall Maintenance for Your Home's HVAC Systems

As the warm summer days begin to fade, it’s time to turn your attention to fall maintenance tasks that will help prepare your home and HVAC system for the cooler months ahead. By taking proactive steps now, you can ensure that your home stays comfortable, energy-efficient, and safe during autumn and winter.

Here’s a guide to essential fall maintenance tasks for your home and HVAC system.

Change Your Air Filters

Air filters play a crucial role in maintaining indoor air quality and ensuring that your HVAC system runs efficiently. As you head into fall, it’s important to change or clean your air filters regularly. Clogged or dirty filters force your system to work harder, leading to higher energy bills and potentially reducing its lifespan. Consider replacing your filters every 30-90 days, depending on usage and the presence of pets or allergies.

Schedule a Professional HVAC Tune-Up

Just like any other system, your HVAC system needs regular maintenance to function efficiently. Fall is the perfect time to schedule a professional tune-up. An HVAC technician will inspect and clean your system, check for any issues, and make necessary adjustments. This preventative maintenance can help avoid unexpected breakdowns during the colder months, saving you money and hassle in the long run.

Check and Seal Air Leaks

Before the temperatures drop, inspect your home for air leaks around windows, doors, and other openings. Sealing gaps with weatherstripping or caulk can prevent drafts and keep warm air inside. Not only does this improve comfort, but it also helps your HVAC system work more efficiently by reducing the load on it, saving you on heating costs.

Test Your Thermostat

Fall is a good time to check your thermostat’s settings and functionality. Consider upgrading to a programmable or smart thermostat, which can help you maintain a comfortable temperature while optimizing energy usage. Set lower temperatures during times when you’re not at home or asleep to reduce energy consumption without sacrificing comfort.

Clean Your Outdoor Unit

Leaves, debris, and dirt can accumulate around your outdoor HVAC unit, affecting its performance. Before the cold weather sets in, make sure to clean the area around your unit and remove any debris. This will ensure that your system runs efficiently and doesn’t overheat during operation.

Inspect Insulation

Proper insulation is key to keeping your home warm during the fall and winter months. Check the insulation in your attic, walls, and crawl spaces to ensure it’s in good condition. Adding or replacing insulation where needed will help maintain indoor temperatures and reduce the strain on your HVAC system.

Examine Your Chimney and Vents

If you have a fireplace, now is the time to inspect your chimney and vents. Make sure they are clean and free from obstructions. This ensures proper ventilation and reduces the risk of carbon monoxide buildup or fire hazards during the colder months.

Check Carbon Monoxide Detectors

With heating systems running during the fall and winter, it’s essential to check your carbon monoxide detectors to ensure they are functioning properly. Replace batteries and test the detectors to safeguard your home from the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Consider an HVAC System Upgrade

If your HVAC system is outdated or nearing the end of its lifespan, fall is a good time to consider upgrading to a more energy-efficient model. Newer systems can offer better performance, lower energy bills, and enhanced comfort during the colder months. A reliable and professional HVAC company like Alternative HVAC Solutions can help you determine if an upgrade is necessary and guide you through the process.

Get Your Fall HVAC Tune-Up Today!

Following these essential fall maintenance tips, you can prepare your home and HVAC system for the cooler months ahead. Regular upkeep ensures comfort, energy efficiency, and peace of mind.

If you need assistance with HVAC maintenance or system upgrades, Alternative HVAC Solutions is here to help with professional, reliable service. Get in touch with us to schedule your fall HVAC tune-up today!

Click here to Request Appointment or Estimate TODAY!

Expert Advice. Your go-to source for HVAC information you can trust.

Important Fall Maintenance for Your Home’s HVAC Systems

As the warm summer days begin to fade, it’s time to turn your attention to fall maintenance tasks that will […]

Read Article

Mold, Mildew, and Your Ductless Mini-Splits: Ensuring Healthy Air in Your Home

If you’ve recently taken a peek inside your Ductless Mini-Split and noticed something dark, fuzzy, or discolored, you might be […]

Read Article

Preserve Your Eichler Home with Ductless HVAC from Alternative HVAC Solutions

Preserve Your Eichler Home with Ductless HVAC: Embracing Modern Comfort in Mid-Century Marvels

Eichler homes, with their distinctive mid-century modern architecture, are treasures of design, seamlessly blending indoor and outdoor living spaces. With […]

Read Article

Alice Wu

September 3, 2024

We've had a great experience working with the Alternative HVAC Solutions team to first install a heat pump water heater and then a heat pump HVAC system a few months later. Their team stands out from the competition because of their in-depth knowledge, years of experience, and high quality of work. The heat pump water heater installation was straightforward. For the heat pump HVAC system, we chose to have 2 separate systems set up: one for downstairs and one for upstairs. We appreciated how well Rick communicated with us (and how the onsite team communicated amongst themselves) as they figured out how to install the air intake system in the attic because there is no "one size fits all" solution since it's highly dependent on the layout of the house and duct work. Julio came up with a creative solution for how to install the drainage pipe for the upstairs heat pump that addressed our concerns with the initial solution. I feel like Rick and Julio consistently went above and beyond. Lastly, we love the fan that they installed in our attic which automatically turns on at pre-set temperatures: low speed at 80 degrees; med speed at 100 and high at 120 (the temps can be adjusted). In just the past few weeks, we've noticed that our upstairs area is noticeably cooler just from the fan cooling down the attic which will reduce our need to use the A/C.

Dale Weideman

April 2, 2024

One year ago, Mike, Jeff, Ramon and their team installed a new heat pump and a heat pump water heater to replace my gas furnace and water heater. I am quite happy with the high quality units they installed and their quality installation and post sales service. Also, they were great about handling the BayREN rebate process - we just kept getting check after check and they handled all the paperwork. I appreciate that they carry what seems to be "high end" equipment, which is more energy efficient and capable. Their installation work was efficient and tidy and I appreciate the workmanship. We recently experienced a component fault in the heat pump water heater and they serviced the unit quickly and effectively. I've recommended them to a friend and will continue to do so.

Cecilia Willer

March 20, 2024

Alternative HVAC did an excellent job. The crew was outstanding. They were professional, very neat and knowledgeable. We highly recommend them. They removed our old gas HVAC, put new ceiling vents in, installed the new electric heater and outdoor pump, did all the electrical work, and even removed old duct work from our crawl space. They helped us get a no interest loan for 18 months, a rebate and all the necessary permit work. They are top notch!

Ole Hoefelmann

January 29, 2024

Big thank you to Annel, Jeff and the team. Everyone was very professional, responsive and thorough. Great proof of the team caring about their customers was that the final invoice was 50% less than the original estimate. The team that came to do the work noticed that it was not as bad as initially thought, let me know, and completed the work. And the result is that our heating is a lot more efficient than before. Thank you!

Kirk G

May 26, 2023

An excellent business. Have always been impressed by the depth of knowledge and expertise. A series of recommendations for anyone looking to install a similar system: - Mitsubishi is the gold standard. - 14-20 SEER is the energy efficiency band you want to shoot for as that is the most reliable. Anything in the high 20s or 30s I have read is more experimental and prone to failure. - They are hard to come by now but spend the extra money for mini split "head" Wi-Fi adapters. Being able to control everything on your phone is excellent. - It is very cheap to spend a little extra and have a mini split both heat and cool. At the time we installed the main compressor, it was $2,000 more to get the unit that could do both. - If you are retrofitting an existing house, or are considering an ADU (or 2), consider first the maximum number of heads and BTUs you would need 5 years from now. We installed the 60,000 BTU compressor with a branch box, pictured in photo 3 of the review, with only two mini split heads attached at the time. Let me tell you, it was very convenient just tacking on to the branch box rather than wiring in yet another unit.

Otto Celis

June 7, 2021

Was a very good experience

Lisa B.

June 27, 2024

We had our furnace and air conditioner replaced with a heat pump system, along with adding some ducting and an attic fan. The extra ductwork was put in because the original ducting and single return register was not adequate for the house. They were able to schedule us sooner than I had imagined. The workers cleaned up after themselves; the job turned out to be trickier than expected and took 2-3 days extra, but there was no extra charge. They set up the city inspection for me and everything is now signed off on. It's working well (so far we've only used the air conditioner, since it's summer). The extra ductwork and air return have helped to get the cool air to a couple of rooms at the very end of the line that never used to get cooled adequately.

Ce W.

March 20, 2024

I H.

March 13, 2024

Mike and his team did a terrific job on our HVAC unit. The team is very professional, attentive to details and responsive. The job was done on time and exactly as planned. Overall, very satisfied that we selected Alternative HVAC Solution.

Chris P.

January 28, 2024

We needed to replace our old, no longer functioning, gas furnace and decided to install a heat pump, mainly to go green. We selected Alternative HVAC from three quotes we obtained. They were very helpful in explaining the best options, and we went with a Mitsubishi ducted heat pump. Installation was very smooth and to a high standard. They handled all the paperwork and rebates, including the city inspection which it passed with flying colors. The surprise has been how much more comfortable the house environment is compared to gas furnace forced air heating: no more getting baked then chilled, but quiet maintenance of the selected temperature, with the option of A/C if needed. Alternative HVAC did a high quality installation and were responsive throughout: highly recommended. One last point: after installation and boot up, go on the PG&E Electric Home tariff. We've only had it 2 months, but seem to be paying less for heating (i.e., electricity) than we did last year for gas.

Dan K.

January 19, 2024

We have used Alternative HVAC twice now, once about 2-years ago and again this winter. Both times we inquired about adding heat pumps to our all electric house, and both times they were great to work with. We knew we wanted efficiency as our house is rather large and not super well insulated, and our research suggested that Mitsubishi was the best on the market. Alternative HVAC was the recommended Mitsubishi installer in our region and they responded quickly to our initial inquiries. Mike is an expert on heat pumps and knows them inside and out. He came out each time and explained what sizes he would use, and where he would recommend installing the five different interior mini-split systems, where he would place the exterior units, the upsides and downsides of heat pumps and different mini-splits etc. When I called they always answered the phones or called me back, and met all of their deadlines, which I'm sure can be tough during covid and with high demand in winter (I was expecting slower service and would have been OK with slightly slower response time, so I was pleasantly surprised). Within 2-weeks of our first call, our freezing cold house was blasting heat and using very little energy to do so. Alternative had a GREAT team: they sent paper invoices and estimates via mail to our house (and email of course), they 100% handled all of the Peninsula Clean Energy rebates which had no issues, they appropriately sized all the equipment, they assisted with the San Mateo county permitting process, and stuck to both their pricing and service agreements with zero issues. They also did an extremely tidy job on the installation. I am a picky person. I wanted the ducting to look super straight, clean, and with no mistakes. They were flexible with my strange requests (hiding stuff up in the closets for example), and made everything work better than I could've expected. They also had a follow-up appointment within a year due to some tiny issue which they fixed the next day, without blinking, even though our house is about 40-minutes from their office. I probably won't need any more HVAC additions to my house, but I would certainly recommend this company to anyone who demands a professional experience and wants the best.

Carol C.

September 15, 2023

I very much enjoyed working with Mike Rebholtz and his technicians at Alternative HVAC Solutions (referred to me by my next-door neighbor). I needed eight Mitsubishi mini split air movers and two outdoor heat pumps installed in my Eichler home. In my quest to go COMPLETELY ELECTRIC, I had to replace my much-loved radiant heat system for heat pump generated heat and A/C. I am so glad I did this, and it is so good to finally have A/C. I wish I had done this years ago!

Srchinn ..

August 5, 2023

Alternative HVAC solutions installed a heat pump hot water heater and a HVAC system for my residence. All of the workers were courteous and considerate when performing their work. Ramon was exceptional in addressing the fine details of the installation and explaining each step of the project. My neighbors commented that they could tell they were a very professional crew by the manner in which they performed the work, cleaned up and interacted with the community. The project manager and office staff were great in organizing the project and in managing the Peninsula Clean Energy rebates and Zero interest Clean Energy loan.

Aline L.

June 15, 2023

Outstanding job from start to finish. Alternative HVAC Solutions installed a ducted heat pump system. The complete process was thoroughly explained to us, and we were able to select the best option for our home. Getting the permits and available rebates was painless. The crew was efficient and carefully cleaned the job site (indoor and outdoor) at the end. They also took their time and patiently answered all the questions we had. I highly recommend Alternative HVAC Solutions and Mike Rebholtz.

Important Fall Maintenance for Your Home’s HVAC Systems

Change Your Air Filters

Schedule a Professional HVAC Tune-Up

Get Your Fall HVAC Tune-Up Today!

Leave a Reply Cancel Reply

Estimate Request

Expert Advice. Your go-to source for HVAC information you can trust.

Important Fall Maintenance for Your Home’s HVAC Systems

Mold, Mildew, and Your Ductless Mini-Splits: Ensuring Healthy Air in Your Home

Preserve Your Eichler Home with Ductless HVAC: Embracing Modern Comfort in Mid-Century Marvels