A Seasonal Heating and Cooling Guide for Monroe, MI Homes

Monroe County homes run the furnace or boiler hard from November to March and the air conditioner from June to August, so each system needs attention at a different time of year. This guide covers what to do each season, the warning signs that mean it is time to call a technician, and how to decide between a repair and a replacement.

Your year at a glance

Fall: get the furnace or boiler ready

Schedule a heating tune-up in September or October, before the first cold snap fills every HVAC company’s schedule. Tune-up pricing follows our current specials, and members of our ESA maintenance plan get a fall and a spring tune-up at no charge.

• Replace the furnace filter, or check it monthly if you have pets or ongoing renovation dust.
• Test your carbon monoxide and smoke detectors and replace their batteries.
• Move furniture, rugs and storage away from supply registers and return grilles.
• Switch the thermostat to heat and make sure warm air arrives within a few minutes.

Homes with a boiler and radiators should also have the pressure and relief valve checked. Bleed any radiators that stay cold at the top. See our furnace maintenance and boiler maintenance pages for what a tune-up covers.

Winter: keep the heat on safely

High-efficiency furnaces vent through white PVC pipes on the side of the house. After a snowstorm or drifting wind, clear snow and ice away from those pipes, because a blocked vent can shut the furnace down.

Call for service if the furnace short-cycles (starts and stops every few minutes), blows cold air, makes new banging or squealing noises, or trips the breaker. If a carbon monoxide alarm sounds, get everyone outside first and call 911 or your gas utility. Call us once the home has been cleared.

Spring: get the air conditioner ready

Book an AC tune-up in April or May, before the first hot week. It’s included for ESA members, and our current specials page lists current tune-up offers.

• Clear leaves, grass clippings and cottonwood fluff from around the outdoor condenser. Keep about two feet of open space on every side.
• Replace the filter again. A clogged filter is one of the most common causes of a frozen coil.
• Run the AC for a few minutes on the first warm day, so a problem shows up before you actually need the cooling.

Summer: keep cool without overworking the system

Southeast Michigan summers are humid, and an air conditioner removes moisture as well as heat. Keep the thermostat at a steady setting instead of making large swings, and keep blinds closed on sunny afternoons. Call for AC repair if the system blows warm air, if ice forms on the copper lines, or if water collects around the indoor unit.

Repair or replace?

Many furnaces last 15 to 20 years, and many central air conditioners last 12 to 15. If your system is 15 years or older and needs a major repair, replacing it is usually the better investment. That’s especially true if repairs keep coming back or energy bills keep rising. A younger system with a single failed part is usually worth repairing. We’ll give you both options in writing, and the decision is yours. See what HVAC costs in Monroe County, furnace installation and AC installation.

Common questions

We’re a Rheem Pro Partner, and we can source and service virtually any brand. J&K is licensed (MI #7109194) and family-owned in Monroe since 1986. Call (734) 587-3184 or book online to schedule a tune-up or repair.