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Is Your HVAC System Ready for Thanksgiving?

Thanksgiving is less than a month away. The menu is coming together and the guest list keeps growing. But there’s one thing that can wreck the day faster than a dry turkey: an HVAC system that quits with a house full of people.

Holidays are tough on your system. Extra bodies, an oven running for six hours, doors opening and closing all afternoon. Here are seven things you can do over the next few weeks so you don’t get a surprise on the big day.

1. Change Your Air Filter

This is the easiest and most important step. A clogged filter restricts airflow, makes your system work harder, and is one of the most common causes of breakdowns. Most standard filters need changing every 1 to 3 months. If you can’t remember the last time you changed yours, do it this week, and grab a spare for after the holidays.

2. Test Your Heat Now, Not on Thanksgiving Morning

Turn your heat on and let it run for a while. A faint burning-dust smell for the first few minutes is normal as dust burns off. Call a pro if:

• The system won’t turn on
• It blows cold air
• The burning smell lingers or smells electrical
• It turns on and off repeatedly
• You hear banging, grinding, or squealing

Finding a problem now gives you weeks to fix it instead of hours.

3. Check Your Thermostat

Replace the batteries, confirm it’s set to heat mode, and make sure the house actually reaches the temperature you set. If you have a programmable thermostat, adjust the schedule for the holiday. With extra people and the oven going, you may want to set it a couple of degrees lower than usual.

4. Clear Your Vents and Returns

Rearranging furniture for extra seating? Putting out holiday decorations? Make sure nothing is blocking your supply vents or return grilles. Blocked returns starve the system of air and can lead to uneven temperatures and extra strain.

5. Test Your Carbon Monoxide Detectors

With the heat running and the oven on all day, working CO detectors are a must. Press the test button on each one and replace batteries as needed. If your detectors are more than 7 years old, check the manufacturer date and consider replacing them.

6. Look at Your Outdoor Unit

If you have a heat pump, it heats your home through the outdoor unit. Clear away leaves, branches, and debris so it has at least two feet of space around it.

7. Schedule Professional Maintenance

You can handle the first six yourself. A professional tune-up catches what you can’t see: worn igniters, dirty burners, weak electrical components, and safety issues like a cracked heat exchanger.

Through the holiday season, Aircons is offering two specials:

• $89 Residential Tune-Up: a 23-point preventive maintenance and safety inspection
• $100 Duct Cleaning: removes built-up dust and allergens before family arrives

Book Before the Holiday Rush

The week before Thanksgiving is one of the busiest times of year for HVAC companies. Book now to get a time that works for you and enjoy the holiday without worrying about the heat.eather is mild and you aren’t relying on the heat yet. Once the first cold front hits, schedules fill up fast.