It may still feel like summer, but fall officially begins on September 22 – is your home ready for the new season? Here are 7 things you can do around the house to prepare it for cooler months ahead.

• It’s time to change that air filter. The beginning of each new season is a good way to remember to change your air filters, a task that is important for the health of your heating and cooling system. Dirty, clogged air filters reduce efficiency and produce and re-circulate stale, dusty air.

• Fall is a good time to check your insulation situation. If your insulation is less than R-38 (that is, 14 inches of fiberglass), you need to add more. Blowing in some additional insulation now will help keep those cracks and crevices from leaking that precious heated air.

• ‘Tis the season to switch the rotation of your ceiling fans. Counterclockwise is for summer, clockwise is for winter. When you have your blades rotating clockwise, they’ll help push the warm air that rises back down. It can help maximize the efforts of your furnace.

• Now is the time to get a new winter coat – and that goes for your water heater as well. Getting a nice layer of insulation wrapped around your water heater will help it retain heat and save on energy costs.

• The weather is still pleasant so this is a more comfortable time to inspect your home’s heating ducts for any leaks. Also look for any leaks around windows and check the weather stripping around doors. If there are cracks, you should caulk the seals or replace them.

• If you don’t have a humidifier on your furnace, consider installing one to save on energy costs. The proper amount of moisture in the air is not only more comfortable, but it makes heat at a lower temperature feel warmer.

• The temperature changes a lot in the fall, so keep an eye on your thermostat. Lower the heat when you’re away at work and sleeping at night to save on energy costs; it takes more energy to heat up a cool house than to keep it warm all the time.

Schedule a Precision Tune-up on your HVAC

Fall is also a great time to have  MoreVent check your system and make sure all equipment is in working order. A regular precision tune-up can help you find problems before they become expensive repairs and help extend the life of your HVAC system. So, if it’s time for your regular Precision tune-up, give us a call or schedule your next appointment online!