How to Get Your Ducted Heating System Ready for Winter This Autumn

Nothing beats your home getting warm and cosy from ducted heating, but you don’t want your system conking out during an unexpected cold front. It’s a good idea to prepare your ducted heater months before winter, including checking and maintaining it, but how do you go about it?

In this blog, we’ll explain the essential steps to prepare your ducted heating system for winter, including professional inspections, insulation, cleaning, and get down to the specifics. The entire family won’t have to worry about buying extra blankets.

Preparing Your Ducted Heater: A Fast Guide

How can you get preparations underway before winter? There are a few things to think about.

1. Book in a Professional Inspection

Although you can look at your heater yourself, you won’t receive the same benefits as you would from an experienced technician. Heating professionals are trained to spot potential problems that may not be obvious to the average homeowner. By catching them early, you won’t be up for a fortune in repairs or replacements.

According to Sustainability Victoria, regular inspections of heating systems can reduce energy use and slash household energy bills by keeping systems operating.

How can a technician help you during the inspection?

• > Check for any faults in the system’s components.
  
• > Make sure that the heating elements are working, such as the heat exchanger.
  
• > Identify safety hazards such as gas leaks or carbon monoxide build-up.
  

If your system is older, you may consider upgrading it to a more energy-efficient model, such as the Mitsubishi Electric ducted heating and cooling system.

2. Keep Your Home Insulated

Everyone wants to keep spaces warm and reduce heating expenses during winter, but how can it be done? Sustainability Victoria reports that 25-35% of a home’s heat loss occurs through the roof, so insulation in your ceiling, walls, and floors can boost your home’s heat retention during winter. Keep your home insulated with:

• > Ceiling insulation: Is your ceiling insulation up to standard? If it’s worn out or insufficient, install new insulation to prevent heat loss.
  
• > Wall insulation: If your walls are not insulated, add wall insulation. It’s especially important for older properties.
  
• > Floor insulation: Don’t forget about the floors. In colder climates, such as Melbourne or rural Victoria, the ground can draw heat away from your living space.
  

Your ducted heating system won’t have to work as hard for your residential or commercial property, leading to lower energy bills and a more comfortable environment.

3. Check and Clean Filters

Filters can trap dust, dirt, and other debris that could otherwise clog the system or reduce airflow. If these filters get too dirty, your system will have to work harder to push and circulate hot air, using more energy and potentially shortening its lifespan. So, how can you clean the filters?

• > Turn off the system: Make sure that the system is powered down before you start cleaning.
  
• > Remove the filters: Check the manufacturer’s guidelines to see how to remove the filters properly. Mitsubishi Electric models will have different steps in comparison to a Daikin or Bonaire.
  
• > Clean or replace the filters: If they are washable, clean them thoroughly with warm, soapy water and let them dry completely before putting them back in. If the filters are disposable, replace them with new ones.
  

It is recommended to clean filters every 1-3 months, but if you’re unsure, reach out to an HVAC technician at Aust Climate for maintenance support!

4. Inspect and Clean Vents and Registers

Over time, dust and debris can block airflow and stop your system from heating your spaces evenly, and the last thing you want is cold spots in your home. So, how do you go about cleaning vents and registers?

• > Turn off the heating system: Always switch the system off before cleaning.
  
• > Remove vent covers: Use a screwdriver to remove the covers from your vents.
  
• > Vacuum or wipe down: To remove dust and dirt, use a vacuum with a hose attachment or a damp cloth.
  
• > Reattach covers: Once cleaned, carefully reattach the covers to the vents and registers.
  

Regular vent and register cleaning help ensure warm air is evenly distributed throughout your home. Want to have a deeper understanding of other heating and cooling system maintenance? Read: Mitsubishi Electric air conditioning – a guide to maintenance and repairs.

Ducted Heating Regular Maintenance: A Checklist

Let’s take a look at some steps to keep in mind as part of your routine maintenance.

Test Out Your Thermostat

Before the weather gets too cold (and this happens all too often in Melbourne, even in autumn) test your thermostat so it’s accurately controlling the temperature. If your thermostat is not reading the temperature, it may be using more energy than you think.

• > Check the settings: Make sure your thermostat is set to “heat” mode, and the temperature is set correctly.
  
• > Test the temperature: Compare the temperature displayed on the thermostat to the actual room temperature. If the difference is significant, you may need to recalibrate or replace the thermostat if it has malfunctioned.

Have a read of our troubleshooting guide

Check Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors

As your ducted heating system uses gas to produce warmth, you must check your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. These devices detect dangerous gases and provide an early warning if something goes wrong. Sustainability Victoria recommends testing alarms monthly and replacing batteries so detectors are in good working order.

In Victoria, fire alarm tests should adhere to relevant standards, including BS5839 Part 1 for non-domestic and communal residential properties and BS5839-6 for domestic properties, as stated by the Victorian Building Authority.

Upgrade Your Thermostat for Energy Efficiency

If you’ve been noticing higher energy bills and strain on your ducted heating system, you might need a new thermostat.

Consider upgrading to a smart thermostat, which can automatically adjust the temperature based on your preferences, schedule, and even the weather outside. These systems can learn your habits and adjust the settings when the house is empty or during the night. Let’s take a look at the Mitsubishi Electric zone controller!

• > The Zone Controller distributes conditioned air to where you need it in your home or office. With the ability to create up to 4 or 8 separate zones, there is no need to condition air in unoccupied rooms. Unoccupied spaces can be prevented from receiving airflow, reducing power consumption in unnecessary areas.
• > A 4.3” easy-to-use touch panel with backlight.
• > A built-in temperature sensor detects and displays the room temperature on the screen.
• > The built-in occupancy sensor detects a person and operates the unit accordingly. If the motion is undetected, the air conditioner switches to energy-saving mode.
• > A built-in brightness sensor operates the unit according to the surrounding brightness level. Day and time settings can be combined with the brightness sensor to automatically turn the air conditioner off when the lights are switched off.
• > The Zone Controller allows five sensors to be included in the system. The unit’s control is based on averaging the sensors of the active zone.
• > Compatible with MAC-568IF-E Wi-Fi Controller. Users with an active Internet connection can control the air conditioner from anywhere via smartphone, tablet or computer, including changing individual zones for a ducted system.

Seal Air Leaks to Prevent Heat Loss

Gaps around doors, windows, and even ductwork can allow warm air to escape, causing your heating system to work twice as hard as it needs to. How do you seal leaks around your property?

• > Weatherstripping: Apply weatherstripping around windows and doors to prevent drafts.
  
• > Caulking: Use caulk to seal cracks and gaps in walls, especially around windows and door frames.
  
• > Ductwork insulation: Insulate any exposed ductwork to prevent heat loss.
  

If you aren’t sure how to do this, a heating and cooling professional can help! Sealing these leaks will help maintain consistent temperatures in winter.

Service Your Ducted Heating System

Professional servicing can help spot issues that may go unnoticed during routine maintenance, such as gas leaks, overheating components, or blockages. Regular servicing helps keep the system running efficiently and can also increase its lifespan.

Aust Climate offers services and maintenance and is fully trained and experienced in servicing and repairing ducted heaters. We also carry out carbon monoxide testing to ensure your unit is safe to operate. We offer you year-round peace of mind and highly recommend servicing your system every 2-3 years.

Prevent Carbon Monoxide Build-Up

Carbon monoxide is a dangerous, colourless, and odourless gas that can be released if your heating system is not functioning properly.

During your inspection, check that the system’s ventilation and exhaust systems are clear of obstructions.

Maintenance, servicing, and reliable repairs extend the life of your ducted heating system, and you can expect it to last up to 15-20 years. Aust Climate supports you with your gas ducted heating needs. Let’s take a look at the Daikin Premium Inverter Ducted:

• > Industry Leading Energy Performance. Achieved with a redesigned cross-pass heat exchanger, DC fan motor and improved refrigerant control technology.
• > Reduces the outdoor noise levels during sleeping hours and resumes normal operations in the morning.
• > The refrigerant-cooled PCB technology incorporated in the outdoor unit enables continuous operations up to 50°CDB ambient.
• > Heating Focus models are available from 18.0-24.0kW with improved heating performance.
• > R22-Retrofit Capability provides a cost-effective and convenient upgrade from an existing R22 ducted system while retaining the field piping.
• > Indoor units are designed and manufactured to Australian standards to handle harsh summer climates.

You can also think about upgrading to the Daikin Slimline Ducted. What are some of the stand-out features?

• > Designed to suit installations where ceiling space is at a premium, so it is flexible design-wise and gives you more freedom. The low-profile design is 245mm in height.
• > DC fan with a static pressure of 150Pa and up to 85m (100-140 Class) of available pipe run to suit your design layout.
• > Provides a cost-effective and convenient upgrade from an existing R22 ducted system, retaining the field piping.
• > Allows the fan speed to adjust automatically to suit your duct design for optimum airflow distribution.
• > Ideal for narrow spaces such as under the floor, it meets the challenges of modern commercial and medium-density apartment buildings.
• > The option of a rear or bottom suction return allows for greater installation flexibility.
• > DC condensate pump is equipped as standard with an 850mm lift.

Do you want to learn more about heating and cooling maintenance? Read how to clean your split system for optimal cleaning performance.

Need a Heating and Cooling Service? Call Aust Climate!

Preparing your ducted heating system for winter means energy efficiency, keeping your home safe, and saving money.

With over 25 years in the HVAC business as fully qualified and trained technicians, Aust Climate specialising in the sale, installation, service, repair and maintenance of heating and cooling solutions. This included gas ducted heating, electric heating and cooling, split systems and ducted reverse cycle heating and cooling.

Whether you need ducted heating in Templestowe,  Bayswater, Bentleigh, Forest Hill, Glen Waverley, Kilsyth, Wandin, Wonga Park, or Yarra Glen, we present you with a trustworthy ducted heating repair.

Call 03 9726 4444 to contact us or visit our showroom in Chirnside Park, Victoria. We have a range of new season products, brands, services, and specials, such as a VEU rebate.