Getting Your HVAC System Ready for Fall in the Ozarks

Simple Fall HVAC Tips for Springfield’s Cool Mornings, Warm Afternoons, and Changing Weather

Read time: 5 minutes

Fall is one of the prettiest times of year in the Ozarks. Cooler mornings, colorful leaves, and comfortable afternoons make it a favorite season for many of us.

But fall weather in Springfield can also be unpredictable. You may need the heat in the morning and the air conditioner again by late afternoon. Those temperature swings are normal, and your HVAC system is designed to handle them.

Here are a few simple things homeowners can do to stay comfortable and get their heating and cooling system ready for the season ahead.

It’s Okay to Switch Between Heating and Cooling

One of the most common questions homeowners have in the fall is whether switching the thermostat from cooling to heating — and then back again — can hurt the HVAC system. In most cases, it is perfectly fine. Modern thermostats and HVAC systems are designed to handle normal seasonal temperature changes. If the morning is cold, you can use the heat. If the afternoon warms up enough that you need air conditioning, you can switch back to cooling.

Most modern thermostats have a built-in compressor protection delay, commonly around five minutes, so the outdoor unit may not start immediately after you switch to cooling. That delay is normal and helps protect the system. If your thermostat says cooling is on but the outdoor unit does not start right away, give it a few minutes before assuming there is a problem.

Test Your Furnace Before the First Cold Night

It is a good idea to turn the furnace on before you actually need it. Choose a cooler morning, raise the thermostat a few degrees, and make sure the system starts normally. Listen for unusual noises and make sure warm air is coming from the vents.

You may notice a slight dusty smell the first time the furnace runs after sitting unused through the summer. That can be normal as dust burns off the heat exchanger and other components. However, strong electrical smells, burning odors that continue, unusual noises, or a furnace that does not heat properly should be checked by a professional.

Testing the system early gives you time to take care of a problem before the first really cold night, when HVAC companies tend to get much busier.

Check Your Air Filter

Fall is a good time to inspect your HVAC filter. A dirty filter can restrict airflow and make both heating and cooling equipment work harder, so keeping it clean is an important part of maintaining proper airflow through the system.

How often a filter needs to be changed depends on the type of filter, pets in the home, allergies, construction dust, and how much the system runs. Instead of relying only on a calendar, check the filter regularly and replace it when it becomes visibly dirty.

Keep Supply and Return Vents Open

Make sure furniture, rugs, curtains, or boxes are not blocking supply registers or return-air grilles.

Your duct system is designed to move a certain amount of air through the furnace and throughout the home. When too many supply vents are closed or return-air openings are blocked, airflow can be reduced.

During heating, restricted airflow can cause the furnace to run hotter than it should and may trip a safety limit switch. If that happens, the burners can shut off until the furnace cools down, which can lead to short cycling and uneven heating.

Closing vents also usually does not save energy the way people expect.

For best performance, keep supply registers and return-air grilles open and unobstructed so the system can move the airflow it was designed for.

Clear Leaves and Debris Around the Outdoor Unit

Fall leaves are beautiful, but they can collect around your outdoor HVAC equipment. Keep leaves, grass clippings, weeds, and other debris away from the unit so air can move freely through it.

You generally do not need to cover an air conditioner for the winter because outdoor equipment is designed to handle the weather. If you have a heat pump, do not cover the outdoor unit because it continues operating during the heating season.

Check Your Thermostat

Fall is a good time to make sure your thermostat is working properly.

If your thermostat uses batteries, replace them if they are getting old — even if the thermostat screen is still lit.

Weak batteries can sometimes provide enough power for the display to stay on, but not enough for the thermostat to reliably send the signal that starts the heating or cooling system. That can make it look like there is a furnace or air conditioner problem when the thermostat batteries are actually the issue.

Check that the thermostat is set to the correct mode and temperature, especially after switching between heating and cooling.

Some thermostats also offer an automatic setting that switches between heating and cooling based on indoor temperature. That can be convenient during the Ozarks’ unpredictable fall weather.

If your system is not responding the way it should, fresh thermostat batteries are one of the simplest things to check first.

Check Carbon Monoxide Detectors

Homes with gas furnaces should have working carbon monoxide detectors.

Before heating season, test each detector, replace the batteries if needed, and check the date on the unit itself. Carbon monoxide detectors have a limited service life, so follow the manufacturer’s recommendation for when the detector should be replaced.

Some detectors may still appear to work even when they are near or past the end of their recommended life.

Carbon monoxide is colorless and odorless, so properly working detectors are an important part of home safety.

If a carbon monoxide alarm sounds, leave the home and follow emergency instructions rather than trying to diagnose the furnace yourself.

Heat Pump Owners May Notice Defrost Cycles

If your home uses a heat pump, you may notice some things during colder weather that can look unusual but are actually normal.

A light coating of frost on the outdoor heat pump can be normal when the weather is cold and damp. When frost builds up, the system may temporarily go into a defrost cycle to warm the outdoor coil and melt it away.

During defrost, the system may bring on auxiliary or backup heat to help keep the home comfortable. You may also see steam rising from the outdoor unit as the frost melts. That is usually normal.

What is not normal is a heat pump becoming covered in a large amount of ice or staying iced over. Heavy ice buildup means something is wrong and the system should be checked by an HVAC professional.

A little frost can be normal. A lot of ice is not — call for service.

Know When Something Isn’t Normal

Fall is a good time to notice how your system is operating before colder weather settles in. If your furnace will not start, keeps shutting off, makes unusual noises, gives off a persistent burning or electrical smell, or is not heating the home properly, it is worth having it checked. For heat pumps, a little frost can be normal, but heavy ice buildup is not.

If the thermostat is set correctly, the batteries are fresh, and the system still is not responding after its normal delay, give us a call. Finding a problem early can help prevent a no-heat situation when the temperatures really drop.

Enjoy Fall in the Ozarks

Fall in Springfield and Southwest Missouri does not always follow the calendar. We may have cool mornings, warm afternoons, a chilly weekend, and then another stretch of summer-like temperatures. Your thermostat can change right along with the weather, and switching between heating and cooling during normal fall temperature swings will not hurt a properly operating HVAC system.

A few simple checks now can help make sure your home stays comfortable when colder weather finally settles into the Ozarks. If your heating system needs service, maintenance, or replacement, SS&B Heating & Cooling has served Springfield and the surrounding Ozarks since 1969.

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