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[cs_content][cs_section parallax=”true” separator_top_type=”none” separator_top_height=”50px” separator_top_angle_point=”50″ separator_bottom_type=”none” separator_bottom_height=”50px” separator_bottom_angle_point=”50″ style=”margin: 0px;padding: 0px;”][cs_row inner_container=”false” marginless_columns=”false” style=”margin: 20px auto 0px;padding: 0px;”][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”2/3″ style=”padding: 0px;”][cs_text class=”cs-ta-left”]This summer’s heat waves are still in the back of minds, but fall is already here, and fall is bringing Knoxville much cooler temperatures. Chances are that over the past few weeks, you’ve been turning off your air conditioner, cracking open your windows, and taking advantage of the cool breezes passing through East Tennessee.

HVAC-4 It’s still a little too early to think about switching on your heating unit, but that makes right now a great time to have your heating unit inspected by a professional. If you ensure that you have a properly maintained and functional heating unit today, you won’t have to worry about calling out a professional for an emergency service in January.

The good news is that there are a number of simple maintenance checks that you can do yourself to make sure that your heating unit is ready for the sure-to-be harsh winter ahead.

3 Things You Can Do Yourself

To take advantage of the increased demand over the winter, some companies (Not HEP) charge outrageous amounts for emergency services, so taking care of your unit now can save you money this winter. Getting your unit tuned up now can save you a lot of money.

Test your unit. You don’t use half of your HVAC unit during the warmer months of the year, so the last thing you want is for there to be a problem when you turn it on for the first time this winter. Do yourself a favor and test your unit. You may smell dust burning, which is relatively normal, but if the smell doesn’t go away soon, call a professional to take a look.

Replace air filters. Replacing the air filters in your unit seems like common sense, but people often just forget about it. It’s one of those things that is out of sight and out of mind, but it’s important to clean or replace your air filter every month. When air has to travel through a dirty air filter, it makes it harder for your heating unit to warm your home, causing it to work harder and you to pay more for electricity every month.

Changing your air filter is an inexpensive and easy way to help bring down your heating costs, but it’s also a great way to clean the air in your home. A dirty air filter doesn’t collect dust and allergens efficiently, so those particles continue to fly around your house. For maximum heating efficiency and air cleanliness, change your air filter once a month.

Clear blockages. Over the summer months, things may have slowly collected in front of your radiators or baseboard heaters, so before the first cool night of the year, make sure that your heating unit is clear of any blockages. Blockages in front of radiators are fire
hazards and should be removed before you ever consider turning on your heating unit.

3 Things to Leave to a Professional

While the steps above are great ideas for getting your heating unit ready for the winter, for some jobs you may need to call a professional.

Roof line of a house with gabels

Install energy-efficient windows. Your Windows probably aren’t the first things that come to your mind when you’re considering how to make your heating unit more efficient, but if your windows are old and poorly maintained, your heating unit is working harder than it should to keep your home warm and cozy. Though there are upfront costs, for many people, properly installed energy-efficient windows are a cost-saving way to insulate their homes.

Get a heating unit tune up. You probably haven’t used your heating unit in well over six months, so it’s not a bad idea to have a professional come out to your home and make sure that your unit is at peak performance. Because the demand is low in the fall, it’s easy to  schedule a simple inspection of your heating unit. But if you don’t have your heating unit inspected and something breaks in the middle of winter, you may have to wait in line for an available service technician. HEP will do a 27-point inspection on your unit for just $99.

Clean ductwork. Over time, your ductwork can accumulate a lot of dust, cobwebs, and even rodent feces, and every time your heating unit kicks on, it’s circulating air that passes through the debris in your ductwork. Moreover, any debris in your ductwork makes it harder for air to pass through it, which makes your heating unit work harder. If it’s been a while since you’ve had your ductwork cleaned, call a professional to come by and do an inspection. If nothing else, it will give you some peace of mind that’s definitely worth the price.

Make sure that your heating unit is ready for this winter’s cold, cold temperatures. If you’d like a professional to take a look at your heating unit, give HEP a call today at (865) 234-0501.

We can schedule an appointment over the phone and send out one of our knowledgeable and experienced comfort specialists to check the efficiency of your unit. There’s no better time than today to have your heating unit inspected for the coming winter’s cooler temperatures, so call HEP today![/cs_text][/cs_column][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/3″ style=”padding: 0px;”][cs_text][text-blocks id=”schedule-button”][/cs_text][x_widget_area sidebar=”sidebar-main” ][/cs_column][/cs_row][/cs_section][cs_section parallax=”false” separator_top_type=”none” separator_top_height=”50px” separator_top_angle_point=”50″ separator_bottom_type=”none” separator_bottom_height=”50px” separator_bottom_angle_point=”50″ class=”cs-ta-center” style=”margin: 40px 0px 0px;padding: 0px;”][cs_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” style=”margin: 0px auto;padding: 0px;”][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″ style=”padding: 0px;”][cs_text]Call HEP Services for all your home improvement needs![/cs_text][/cs_column][/cs_row][/cs_section][/cs_content]