Fall is always a busy time for Virginia families, adapting to new school routines, fall sports schedules, and enjoying everything from apple picking to going to the Virginia State Fair. As you settle into fall and prepare for sweater weather ahead, it’s the perfect time to get your home ready for cooler temps, too.
Here in Richmond, the first frost usually arrives at the end of October — that’s just around the corner! Take steps now to make sure your HVAC is in tip-top shape, so you’re set when it’s time to turn on the heat.
Our HVAC checklist will help you keep your home comfortable, lower your energy use, and prevent the stress and expense of unexpected repairs all season long.
Schedule a Maintenance Checkup
Schedule a preventative HVAC checkup with your local Trane Comfort Specialist to prepare for the changing season. Giving your system a healthy head start helps ensure it’s ready to perform properly when temperatures drop. A professional inspection will help identify potential issues early and keep your HVAC running at peak efficiency through the fall and into winter.
Change Air Filters
Change your HVAC air filter at the start of each season — this is a great home habit to get into. For best results, check and replace disposable filters or clean reusable ones every 30 to 90 days. When dust and dirt build up on the filter, your system has to work harder to maintain your preferred temperature. Not only does this reduce efficiency but it increases the risk of system breakdowns (and nobody wants those!).
Consider a Smart Thermostat
To make your seasonal HVAC prep even easier, consider upgrading to a smart thermostat. Smart thermostats allow you to schedule and adjust settings automatically, keeping your home comfortable while saving energy. By connecting your HVAC system to your home’s Wi-Fi, you can control temperature settings remotely from your phone, anytime and from anywhere. You can also turn your system on or off when you’re away from home using the Trane Home App, helping you monitor and track your system’s energy use year-round.
Check out these Trane smart thermostats to see which will work best for you and your home:
- Trane® LINK UX360: a premium smart thermostat designed to deliver optimal comfort, energy efficiency, and seamless control over your home’s HVAC system, with advanced features, intuitive design, and smart connectivity to enhance your indoor environment.
- ComfortLink® II XL850: a high-performance smart thermostat designed to integrate seamlessly with Trane’s TruComfort™ Variable Speed Systems, offering advanced control, energy efficiency, and smart home connectivity.
- Trane ComfortLinkTM II XL1050: an advanced smart thermostat designed to provide precise climate control and enhanced energy efficiency, with a 7-inch full-color intuitive touchscreen interface, Trane Diagnostics for real-time system monitoring and maintenance alerts, and programmable scheduling and compatibility with Trane’s TruComfort™ variable speed systems.
Reduce Indoor Air Pollutants
With allergy and flu season approaching, reducing indoor airborne pollutants is key to keeping your family comfortable and maintaining a clean home environment. Common indoor air pollutants come from everyday sources like gas stoves, cleaning supplies, paints, tobacco, and fireplaces. Reducing exposure at the source is key to better indoor air quality. Choosing Certified Asthma and Allergy Friendly® products like bedding, vacuums, cleaning supplies, flooring, and paint can help protect your home from harmful allergens. Poorly maintained HVAC systems and ineffective filtration also can negatively impact indoor air quality — making tips #1 and #2 on the checklist even more important. If you have air quality concerns, your local Trane Comfort Specialist can run tests and make specific recommendations for improvement.
Clean Your Outdoor HVAC Unit
Add cleaning your outdoor HVAC unit to your list of fall home maintenance along with winterizing your irrigation, storing outdoor furniture, and raking leaves. Keeping your outdoor unit free of debris can help avoid costly repairs down the road. Pollen, dust, dirt, twigs, fall leaves, and other buildup can restrict airflow or can become lodged inside the unit, putting unnecessary strain on your system. Regularly clearing the area around your unit is a simple step that protects performance and extends equipment life.
To learn more about how Trane can help keep your family comfortable this fall and all winter long, visit our website at www.trane.com to find a dealer near you.
