5 Simple Tips for Seasonal Home Heating Service

Ioanna FotopoulouAlabama WISE

It’s fall in Alabama and many people are still running the air conditioner because of the mild weather, heat from cooking, and the need to control indoor humidity. But, it won’t be long until you need to flip the switch on the thermostat from “COOL” to “HEAT”. Here is some simple advice from the AlabamaWISE community energy program, including a comprehensive guide, to get what you pay for when hiring a contractor for seasonal heating service to your home.

Seasonal heating and air conditioning “tune-ups” for your home comfort systems are just as important as the regular maintenance for your car. Unfortunately, most homes don’t come with an operation and maintenance manual, so AlabamaWISE is here to help with reliable advice and contractor referrals. 

Regular maintenance of your home heating, air conditioning systems will save money by reducing operational and ownership cost while improving indoor comfort and air quality. Follow this guide to ensure your seasonal heating and cooling service is covering all the critical details based on the nationally recognized standard, ANSI / ACCA  Standard 4, Maintenance of Residential HVAC Systems – 2007.

Be sure an HVAC contractor licensed by the Alabama Board of Heating, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Contractors. You can verify a contractor’s license at the state board website:  http://hacr.alabama.gov/licensees/licensees.aspx

The best contractors employ personnel will additional certifications through ACCA  (Air Conditioning Contractors of America) or NATE (North American Technician Excellence). Participating AlabamaWISE Home Performance with Energy Star contractors also have personnel certified by the Building Performance Institute or RESNET in performing whole-house analysis to optimize system performance of the heating and air conditioning system, duct system, and building enclosure (insulation, air barrier, windows, etc.).

5 ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS FOR ANNUAL HOME HEATING SYSTEM TUNE UP SERVICE

  1. Air Distribution System – Inspect and repair duct plenums, branches boots, grilles, registers.
  2. Controls and Safeties – Verify function and settings for thermostats, outdoor sensors, humidistats and zone controls and heating and cooling set points to balance comfort and energy savings.
  3. Heating Equipment Inspection and Service — Each type of system has unique characteristics and maintenance procedures outlined by specific checklists in ACCA Standard 4:
    1. Gas or Oil Furnaces
    2. Boilers
    3. Package Systems
    4. Heat Pump
    5. Geothermal
    6. Electric Furnace or Resistance systems
  4. Accessories – Include air handlers, equipment cabinet, electrical components, heat and energy recovery ventilators, fresh air supply, central de-humidifiers, economizers, air cleaners, condensate pumps.
  5. Carbon Monoxide Safety – Homes with gas or oil furnaces, gas appliances, water heaters, fireplaces, wood-burning stoves, or attached garages must have an operational carbon monoxide detector.
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