By 
Late September in Richmond can be confusing for a thermostat. Afternoons still reach the high 70s, nights drop into the 50s, and many houses switch between cooling and heating in the same day. Those mixed days are when an HVAC system is working least hard, which makes them the best time to check it. A problem found now costs a service call. The same problem found during the first hard freeze in January usually costs more, takes longer to schedule, and means a cold night or two.
This fall that timing matters more than usual. Dominion Energy raised its base rates in January for the first time since 1992, adding about $11 to the average monthly residential bill. A fuel surcharge of roughly $8 per 1,000 kWh followed in July, and part of it covers costs from last winter’s long cold spells. Meanwhile, the federal 25C credit that paid up to $2,000 toward a qualifying heat pump ended for systems placed in service after December 31, 2025. Replacing equipment now costs the full price, and running old equipment costs more each month. Keeping the existing system tuned is the most practical middle ground.
September, while the air conditioner is still running
Start with what you’ve been using all summer. Humid months leave the indoor coil and condensate drain full of biological growth. A slow drain that caused no trouble in August can back up once the system switches modes and the pan collects moisture from defrost cycles.
This is also the time to replace the filter with a new one. Don’t carry a summer filter into winter. A clogged filter lowers airflow, and low airflow is one of the fastest ways to make a heat pump turn on its electric backup strips. Those strips produce about one unit of heat for each unit of electricity. A healthy heat pump produces three or more. That difference explains why some Richmond homes see winter bills climb while others don’t.
October, the handoff month
When heating takes over, gas furnaces and heat pumps need different checks.
For gas furnaces, which are still common in older houses around Bon Air, Henrico, and the near West End, the focus is safety and then efficiency:
- Inspect the heat exchanger for cracks, because a crack can let combustion gases into the airflow.
- Clean the flame sensor. A dirty sensor is the most common reason a furnace lights and then shuts off within seconds.
- Check the draft inducer and flue, including the exterior vent, which birds and wasps like to block during summer.
- Test the carbon monoxide alarms in the house instead of assuming they work.
For heat pumps, the list focuses on refrigerant and controls. A technician should check the charge against the manufacturer’s specs, confirm the defrost board and outdoor sensor read correctly, and make sure the thermostat is set to limit strip heat to real emergencies. Many homeowners have never looked at those thermostat settings, even though they have a large effect on winter bills.
Who handles what
Not every task needs a technician. Some are quick jobs for the homeowner, and some shouldn’t be attempted at all.
| Task | Homeowner | Technician | Typical time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Swap the air filter | ✓ | 5 minutes | |
| Clear leaves and debris around the outdoor unit | ✓ | 15 minutes | |
| Test the CO and smoke alarms | ✓ | 10 minutes | |
| Measure refrigerant charge | ✓ | Part of a tune-up | |
| Inspect the heat exchanger | ✓ | Part of a tune-up | |
| Test duct static pressure | ✓ | About an hour | |
| Clean a long dryer vent run | ✓ | About an hour |
The line matters because refrigerant handling requires EPA certification. Opening a furnace cabinet without training can also create safety risks that a DIY video won’t prepare you for.
November, the air you breathe for five months
Once windows stay closed, indoor air quality stops being a vague idea and becomes something you feel. Richmond’s pollen season doesn’t fully end until frost, and houses sealed for winter trap cooking fumes, pet dander, and whatever was sitting in the ducts.
Duct systems deserve particular attention in older neighborhoods. In the Fan and Church Hill, many rowhouses had ductwork added long after they were built, and it often runs through tight crawlspaces and attics. Leaky joints there pull in dusty, humid crawlspace air on the return side and push heated air out on the supply side. Sealing and balancing those runs usually improves both comfort and air quality more than an expensive purifier sitting on a leaky system.
Dryer vents belong on the November list as well. Lint buildup makes an electric dryer run longer, adds to every load’s energy use, and remains a leading cause of household fires. Long vent runs through an attic are the most likely to clog.
A local option for the whole list
Richmond homeowners who want the full checklist handled in one visit can look at Richmond Servicing Services from Element Heating & Cooling. The locally owned team covers furnace and heat pump maintenance, mini splits, AC repair, duct performance, air purification, indoor air quality tune-ups, and dryer and exhaust vent work. Its technicians hold Master HVAC, NCI, and EPA certifications, and the company is known for upfront pricing without upselling. Maintenance program members get priority scheduling and repair discounts, which helps during the first cold week when calls pile up. If the right answer is new equipment or an AquaTherm and water heater replacement, 18-month, 0% interest financing helps fill the gap the expired federal credit left.
December, when repair and replacement stop being equal
Some systems won’t make it through a tune-up in good shape. A unit that’s about 15 years old, uses R-410A, and has a refrigerant leak or a failing compressor presents a real decision. New residential equipment has moved to lower global warming refrigerants such as R-454B and R-32. R-410A can still be used for repairs, but it costs more as supply shrinks.
If replacement is on the table, the options have improved. Variable speed heat pumps handle Richmond’s mild, variable winters with fewer on and off cycles. Ductless mini splits work well for additions, sunrooms, and converted attics that the main system never heated evenly. Hydronic setups like AquaTherm use a single high-efficiency water heater for both showers and space heating, which can make sense in homes that already use gas.
For most houses, though, it won’t come to replacement. A clean filter, a correct refrigerant charge, sealed ducts, clear vents, and a thermostat that keeps the backup strips off will do more for this winter’s bills than most people expect. With electricity costs rising, fall maintenance pays for itself sooner than it used to.
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