Four Winter HVAC Maintenance Tips
As we “fall” back into colder months in Portland, Oregon, it’s a great time to make sure that your home is ready for the changing season and coming winter. Maybe you plan to have guests visit over the holidays or you noticed a weird smell when you turned your heat on for the first time. Following these four important HVAC maintenance tips before winter sets in will ensure that your home is as clean and comfortable as possible when it’s the season to spend more time indoors.
1. Replace Air Filters
Fall is a great time to check and replace your filters as a form of HVAC maintenance. We recommend changing air filters every three months or using a filter subscription service that will send them to you on a set schedule. You want to have clean and clear filters before you start running your heating system daily to prevent high energy costs and dust from being blown throughout your home. Disposable filters will keep the air duct system clean and prevent dirty air particles from circulating throughout your home.
If you’re not sure how to do this or what filter to purchase, PNW ProClean can provide this service along with air duct cleaning.
2. Clean your A/C Condensing Unit
After running for much of the summer, a condensing unit will likely get clogged with dirt and grime. This can build up and get worse during the more humid months in the Portland area, like winter and spring. Every fall, use a hose and damp washcloth to spray clean the outside. It’s also helpful to trim bushes and overgrowth that might be around and growing onto your condenser. Here’s an article that provides thorough instructions on A/C coil cleaning.
3. Get your dryer ducts cleaned and/or repaired
The dryer duct should be cleaned once a year as a regular form of home and HVAC maintenance. Fall is a great time to make sure that you dryer is running smoothly so that you don’t damage any expensive sweaters or wool blankets by over drying and burning them. Dryer ducts easily get clogged with lint, hair, and debris. A clean duct will prevent fire risk, clothing damage, and excessive energy costs on drying. It will also lengthen the life of your dryer.
PNW ProClean will inspect, repair, and clean the dryer duct as necessary. Dryer duct cleaning is also included with any full service air duct cleaning job. Book Dryer Duct Cleaning here.
4. HVAC and Air Duct Cleaning
Air duct cleaning removes the dust, dirt, pollen, and debris that builds up in the duct system over time. PNW ProClean recommends air duct cleaning once every three to five years. Fall is a great time to check in on your return vents and ducts to see if there is dust buildup that requires cleaning. We can also come out for a complimentary inspection.
Duct cleaning will ensure that the HVAC system is running efficiently while also circulating cleaner air throughout the home. If you notice that dust quickly accumulates in the surfaces in your home, it might be time to call us out for an air duct inspection and cleaning. 
These simple tips and helpful hints for fall HVAC maintenance will keep your home comfortable and clean for the upcoming Oregon winter. Addressing seasonal maintenance and cleaning also helps ensure the protection of your home and prevent large HVAC repair and replacement costs. We provide HVAC cleaning services throughout the Portland area, including Beaverton, Hillsboro, Lake Oswego, Milwaukie, and Gresham.
