Fall in Los Angeles is a chance to check on your HVAC system after a long cooling season, and before you turn on the heat for the first time.
Your AC may not be finished for the year yet. LA’s cooling season can stretch well into October. But this is also when to look back at how the system performed over the summer and catch anything that needs attention before the seasons change.
You don’t need to take anything apart. Here’s what to look for.
What should I check on my HVAC system in the fall?
Start with how the system performed over the summer, then check the filter and outdoor unit for anything that needs attention.
Did one room never get comfortable? Did the system seem to run constantly? Was the airflow weaker in part of the house? Did you hear a new noise?
Sometimes the equipment itself is the problem. Other times, it’s airflow, ductwork, return air, drainage, or another part of the system. What happened during the hottest part of summer can tell us a lot about where to look.
Then do a few basic checks:
- Check the filter. If it’s dirty, replace it. Don’t go by the calendar alone — look at it.
- Check the outdoor unit. Make sure leaves, vegetation, and other debris haven’t built up around it. If the coil is caked with dirt, leave the deeper cleaning to a technician.
Why should I check the condensate drain?
Your AC doesn’t just cool the air. It also removes moisture, and that water has to drain away from the system.
Look around the indoor unit for water, stains, rust, or moisture in the drain pan. A partially clogged condensate line may not stop the AC from running, so these can be the first signs that something isn’t draining properly.
Left alone, a drainage problem can eventually turn into a leak and cause damage around the equipment.
When should I schedule fall HVAC maintenance?
Fall is a good time for HVAC maintenance, especially if the system struggled during the summer, started making unusual noises, wasn’t cooling evenly, or showed signs of an airflow problem.
Don’t wait for the next heat wave to figure out why.
Even if everything seemed to run normally, fall maintenance is a chance to check the system after months of heavy use and get the heating side ready for colder weather.
It’s not about replacing parts that don’t need replacing. It’s about finding problems early enough to do something about them.
Should I test my heater before it gets cold?
Yes. Don’t wait until the first cold night to find out the heat isn’t working.
Turn the system on before you actually need it and make sure it starts, runs, and produces heat normally. That gives you time to deal with a problem without making it an emergency.
If you have a gas furnace, test your carbon monoxide alarms too and make sure they’re working.
Is it normal for my heater to smell when I first turn it on?
A slight dusty smell can be normal the first time you turn on the heat after it’s been sitting unused for months. Dust can settle on components during the off-season and burn off when the system starts.
That smell should go away fairly quickly.
A persistent burning smell, smoke, unusual noises, or a system that isn’t heating properly is different. Turn the system off and have it checked.
If you have a gas furnace and smell rotten eggs, leave the house and call your gas company from outside. Don’t try to find or fix the source yourself.
If something didn’t seem right this summer, now is a good time to figure out why.