Colorful leaves falling is a sign of winter months ahead. As the weather grows colder and colder, you turn the heat higher and higher.
When the snowstorm hits, the last thing you want to find out is a malfunction in your HVAC system which you could have dealt with beforehand.
When your heating and cooling unit isn’t working properly, your whole place will become uncomfortable. You might be unable to sleep at night because your home is freezing. To avoid this situation, you need to get your HVAC unit ready for the colder months.
However, if don’t have any idea how to prepare your heater for winter, fret not. We’ve prepared some tips so you can enjoy freezing nights in the comfort of your home.
Change Your Filters
An unkempt filter will put an avoidable amount of stress on your HVAC system. The accumulation of debris and dust will clog your filter making your furnace work harder to suck air eventually causing the HVAC to break down.
The rule of thumb is to change the filter every three months but to be safe make it every month. Anyway, the cost of a filter won’t hurt your pocket in exchange for the many benefits that can be enjoyed during the winter season. It will extend the lifespan of your unit, decrease the bacteria from the conditioned air, and reduce the electric bill among others.
Clean Your Ducts
Even though your heating system is in A-1 condition, you will not receive the full benefits if your ducts are clogged. The presence of grime, allergens, and fungus in your ducts will produce conditioned air that is contaminated. Your HVAC system will be forced to work overtime to cool your home properly.
A clogged duct results in an uneven distribution of heat inside your house. Your electric bill will be higher than usual.
Since ducts are installed on the ceiling, walls, or in tight spaces it will be best to work with a heating repair services contractor like Elite Heating And AC. You will be spared from physical activities, injuries, and substandard work. While at it, they might come across some gaps, loose seams, or damaged ductwork and recommend repairs for the proper airflow.
Check Your Thermostat
Check your thermostat well before winter comes. The HVAC system and the thermostat are inseparable like Batman and Robin one cannot function correctly if the other is defective.
Test if the reading on the thermostat reflects the actual temperature in your house by comparing this with the value on the thermometer. A faulty thermostat will kick off before the set temperature is reached or it runs almost nonstop.
If your thermostat is the earlier mercury model, consider upgrading to a digital thermostat. This will help you save when the electric bill rolls around during the chilly months. You can control and track energy utilization within the house or when you’re away via a smartphone, tablet, or computer. The digital thermostat can be programmed to kick on before you arrive, switch off when you leave, or maintain a constant temperature. Consequently, you can save a considerable amount of money on your energy bills, protecting yourself from potential financial worries.
Test Your Furnace Before the Winter Comes
You do not want to have an HVAC failure in the middle of a freezing winter’s night. It’s hard to schedule repairs when a crisp morning progresses into chilly dawn. Don’t wait until the need for a heating repair happens, here are warning signs that you should not ignore.
- It’s normal to have a high energy bill when the weather reaches extreme conditions. But when you are paying more than the usual there might be something wrong with the heating system.
- If someone in the house develops eye, nose, or airway irritations, headache, cough, and fatigue, pay attention to the indoor air this signifies poor quality.
- Odd smells like rotten egg, something burning, moldy, or dirty socks.
- Strange noises such as grinding, scraping, screeching, or anything unusual.
- Puddles around the unit.
- Uneven temperatures.
- The typical life of HVACs of today is 1O years, if it’s over this it has outlived its usefulness and consider replacing it.
Schedule your HVAC system test with a trusted heating repair services contractor. A qualified technician will tune-up or repair your HVAC unit making sure that you are comfortable with your hot cup of java during wintry nights.
If you’re looking for a top-rated HVAC contractor within your location, you can click here or search online for some information. You can also seek recommendations from your loved ones and colleagues to help you obtain a good list of prospects. When searching for an HVAC company, consider the years of experience, reputation, pricing, customer support, and other key characteristics to ensure you get the perfect one for your heating and cooling unit’s needs.
Insulate your house
A well-insulated house will keep the heat in and the cold air out, and maintain the efficiency of the HVAC unit. Inspect your attic, insulate gaps, or replace deteriorated insulation. Check weather strips on doors and windows. Focus on the ground floor before moving up, this is the first place the cold air will visit when it seeps in.
Inspect your ductworks, improper insulation will result in heat loss and your heating system have to work overtime to provide conditioned air.
To properly insulate your home, be familiar with the different types of insulation. These include foam board, spray foam, expanded polystyrene, reflective insulation, fiber insulation, concrete block insulation, and other options.
Once you find the right home insulation, you can rest easy knowing your heating and cooling system doesn’t need to work harder, which can affect your unit’s ability to keep a comfortable temperature in your residential property.
Why HVAC Maintenance Matters?
Winter is knocking at your door and preparing for the visitor is important. Homeowners need to be mindful of their HVAC maintenance, here’s why it is important during winter.
Boost air quality
A heating unit drives warm air throughout your home, but it can also carry dust, allergens, and other harmful particles. Expect this from a dirty system which can adversely affect the health of household members. Regular maintenance will keep your unit clean and limit pollutants
Save money
It will prevent small problems from progressing into major ones. Little fixes upfront will save you tons of money in the long haul.
Extend the lifespan
Your furnace is serving you well, why not extend its lifespan? A little TLC from your heating repair services contractor has this covered and alert you on problems as they come forward. Your unit’s lifespan will depend on the amount of maintenance you put in.
Keep your family safe
HVAC units release carbon monoxide through the exhaust and to the outdoors. Any breaks in the exhaust will cause the escape of carbon monoxide into your home. A heater maintenance contractor will fix these breaks to keep your family safe.
Maintain efficiency
A neglected unit will perform poorly, it will work harder to provide heat to your space resulting in high energy bills. Regular maintenance will fix problems immediately so that the unit can function efficiently.
Conclusion
Your HVAC system plays an essential role during the cold months. If you want to keep your residential property’s temperature as comfortably warm as possible, you need your unit to be in perfect working condition. To do that, keep the information mentioned above in mind to prepare your heating and cooling system for the winter. That way, your family will be snug and comfy throughout the winter season.
