The crisp fall weather in the Greater Rochester area marks the perfect time to prepare your home for the colder months ahead. It’s the ideal shoulder season to tackle essential home efficiency and HVAC tasks that will keep your home comfortable, energy-efficient, and ready for winter.
Wise Home Energy has been helping local homeowners for over 14 years with our comprehensive HVAC and home performance services. Our essential fall maintenance checklist will guide you through key steps to ensure your home is ready for benefits like efficient home heating, fewer ice dams, optimal comfort, and more.
Heating System Maintenance
Whether you have a traditional furnace, a year-round heat pump, or a dual-fuel heating system, fall maintenance is crucial for winter performance. Here are a few steps you should take every year before the weather turns cold:
Clean or Replace Air Filters
Air filters should be changed or cleaned regularly for optimal airflow.
Clear Vents
All vents should be open and clear of obstructions, like furniture and plants.
Check Outdoor Unit (Heat Pumps)
Your heat pump’s outside unit should have at least 2 ft of clearance from landscaping and debris. Make sure it is clean from leaves and cottonwood seeds.
Test Your System
By turning on your heating system early in the season, you can discover and deal with any potential problems before you really need the system for home heating.
Schedule Heating Maintenance
Professional maintenance will help ensure your heating system operates at peak performance all winter.
Why Home Efficiency Matters in Winter
Even the most efficient heating system will struggle to keep you comfortable if your home has significant performance issues. Air leaks, poor insulation, and aging HVAC systems can all lead to problems throughout your entire home, including:
- High heating costs
- Poor indoor air quality
- Drafty rooms
- Cold floors
- Carbon monoxide risks
- Recurring ice dam
Essential Home Upgrades for Winter Performance
Fall is the perfect time to address these issues because it allows you to make crucial home upgrades before the frigid temperatures really set in. You’ll also beat the winter rush, ensuring your home is properly prepared for the upcoming seasons. The best way to know which upgrades will have the most impact on your home is with a no cost Wise Home Assessment.
During our inspection, we’ll perform several tests to identify the root cause of common efficiency issues and make customized recommendations based on our findings. We’ll also go over available incentives, like NYSERDA rebates, the Inflation Reduction Act, and more. Common home upgrades can include:
- Attic Insulation – This is crucial for winter home performance because it helps keep warm air inside, maintain consistent indoor temperatures, and prevent ice dams on your roof.
- Air Sealing – Essential for eliminating indoor drafts and improving indoor air quality. At Wise Home Energy, we often use high-performance air sealing with spray foam insulation.
- HVAC Upgrades – Replacing an old, inefficient heating system can provide both energy savings and whole-home comfort solutions. It also presents a unique opportunity to upgrade to a heat pump to take a step toward home electrification.