Fall / Winter: 14 tasks
Fall & winter (September–October)
Heating
- DIY
Start the heating season clean. With pets or inversion haze, check it again in a month. Not sure of the size or rating? Use the filter finder.
- DIY
Bump the thermostat up 5 degrees in late September. That first-run dusty smell should fade within an hour. If it doesn't light, or smells like burning plastic, call before the rush.
- DIY
Dead batteries are one of the most common "no heat" calls on the first cold night. Most take AA or AAA.
- DIY
No paint cans, laundry or storage boxes within a few feet. Burners need air, and clutter is a fire risk.
- Call a pro
A tech cleans the burners and flame sensor, checks gas pressure, tests the safeties, and inspects the heat exchanger for cracks that can leak carbon monoxide.
Venting & safety
- DIY
Press the test button. You want a CO alarm on every level and near the bedrooms. Most CO alarms need replacing every 5 to 10 years, so check the date on the back.
- DIY
If your furnace has white PVC pipes out the side wall or roof, keep them clear after every storm and don't let drifts or shoveled snow bury them. A blocked pipe shuts the furnace down.
- DIY
High-efficiency furnaces make water. Make sure the drain line isn't cracked or kinked, the pump isn't full, and any line running outside can't freeze shut.
- Call a pro
Before you start using it nightly: clean the glass, check the pilot and thermocouple, and make sure it's venting right.
Air & humidity
- DIY
Hard water crusts pads in one season. Open the bypass damper for winter and set it around 30–40%. Turn it down on the coldest nights if windows fog or frost.
- DIY
A piece of plywood or a mesh cover on top keeps icicles and debris off. Don't wrap the whole unit in plastic, since that traps moisture and invites mice. If it's a heat pump, leave it uncovered.
- DIY
Shut off and drain the water line, drain the pan, close or cover the cooler's ceiling vent, and cover the cooler so cold air and snow stay out.
Water heater
- DIY
Valley hard water leaves sediment on the bottom. Draining a few gallons until it runs clear helps it heat faster and last longer. If the drain valve is stuck or you're not comfortable with it, call a pro.
- Call a pro
Once a year on hard water. Some homeowners do it with a pump kit, but most people have it done with a tune-up.
Spring & summer (April–May)
Cooling
- DIY
The AC uses the same filter as the furnace. Cottonwood and spring pollen load it up fast.
- DIY
Don't start the AC with a cover on it. Check for nests and leaves inside the top grille while you're there.
- DIY
Turn the power off at the outdoor disconnect first. Pull out leaves and fluff, then hose the fins gently. No pressure washer, which bends the fins.
- DIY
Trim shrubs, move the trash cans and keep grass clippings from blowing into it. The unit needs to breathe to dump heat.
- DIY
Try it in May, not the first 95-degree day in June. If it's blowing warm or the outdoor fan isn't spinning, turn it off and call.
- Call a pro
A tech checks refrigerant charge, tests the capacitor and contactor, cleans the coil and checks the electrical connections. Heat pumps also get a defrost and reversing valve check.
Air & drains
- DIY
Pour a cup of white vinegar into the drain line access (usually a capped tee near the indoor coil). A clogged line can overflow into the basement.
- DIY
Shut the water valve and close the bypass damper for summer, or it can work against the AC.
- DIY
Closed registers don't save energy on most systems. They just raise pressure. Keep furniture off the returns.
- DIY
Around 78 when home and a few degrees higher when away is a good starting point. Big swings make the AC run flat out at 5 p.m.
Swamp cooler ↔ AC
- DIY
If you have both, never run them together. Before the AC runs, make sure the cooler vent is closed or covered. When starting up the cooler, reconnect the water, replace the pads and check the belt. Thinking about retiring the swamp cooler? We can talk through central AC or a heat pump.
Water heater
- Call a pro
Hard water eats anode rods, and once the rod is gone the tank starts to rust. A tech can test the relief valve and check the anode, which is a heavy, awkward job without the right tools.
- DIY
A little moisture on the floor or rust streaks at the fittings is an early warning. Catch it before it's a flooded basement.
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Why it matters here
Utah is hard on equipment
Salt Lake Valley furnaces run from October into April, then the AC works through a long, dry summer. Add hard water that scales up water heaters and humidifiers, inversions that load filters, cottonwood that mats condenser coils every June, and snow that drifts over high-efficiency vent pipes, and a little maintenance goes a long way.
Questions
Common questions
When should I service my furnace and AC in Utah?
Aim for the furnace in September or October, before the first cold snap, and the AC in April or May, before the first 90-degree week. Those are also the easiest times to get on the schedule.
Why do I need to clear snow from my furnace vent pipes?
High-efficiency furnaces pull combustion air in and push exhaust out through white PVC pipes on the side of the house or the roof. If snow or ice blocks them, a safety switch shuts the furnace off. Clear them after every big storm.
How often should I flush my water heater with Salt Lake Valley hard water?
Once a year is a good rule for a tank water heater, and tankless units should be descaled about once a year too. Hard water leaves sediment and scale that cost efficiency and shorten the heater's life.
Which maintenance tasks can I do myself?
Changing filters, testing CO alarms, swapping thermostat batteries, clearing vent pipes and rinsing cottonwood off the AC are all DIY jobs. Anything involving gas controls, refrigerant, electrical parts or heat exchanger inspection is for a licensed pro.
Rather not climb around the furnace?
Our Total Comfort Protection Plan puts the pro items on the calendar for you, twice a year: a fall furnace tune-up and a spring AC tune-up. Or call or text (385) 455-4700 for a one-time tune-up.