Winter is here, meaning it’s time to ensure that your furnace is prepped to keep your home warm when extreme weather sets in. Don’t take a chance on heating issues rearing their ugly heads in the middle of bad weather. Check off the items on our winter HVAC maintenance guide to be sure that your heating system will work great all winter long:
1. Get your thermostat ready for the season
Make sure your thermostat is ready for winter. Make sure to save energy by setting it on a lower temperature at specific times, like at night when everyone will be in their warm beds and during the day when no one is home. Turn up the temperature a bit when everyone is home. As part of prepping your HVAC system for cold weather, consider upgrading to a programmable thermostat. They are more modern and efficient than older models. You can program your thermostat even when you’re not at home using a free app downloaded onto your smartphone, laptop, tablet, or other device. Not only will your home stay comfortable all the time, you will also save money on energy bills.
2. Protect the outdoor part of your HVAC system
Sometimes people forget all about the part of their HVAC system that’s located outside, but it’s just as important to take care of it as it is the rest of your system. In fact, it can be more so because it is exposed to the elements all year long, so it’s even more prone to become damaged than the indoor parts. Buy a good-quality cover for your outdoor A/C unit and cover it as soon as you are finished using the air conditioner for the season. You can find them one at most hardware and home improvement stores. They are weatherproof and durable, so your A/C unit will be protected from dirt and debris buildup as well as snow, rain, ice, etc.
3. Have your home checked for adequate insulation
You may not realize it, but the insulation in your home is an important part of your HVAC system. It is essential to the effectiveness and the performance of your system so that it can keep your home warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Of course, the insulation isn’t directly in contact with your HVAC system, but you need to make sure that your home a sufficient amount of it in the attic to keep the temperature in your home where you want it to be, in all types of weather. Call Centerville Heating & Cooling 937-353-1169 and we’ll schedule an appointment for one of our top-notch HVAC specialists to check your home’s insulation levels. If your home needs more insulation or if new insulation needs to be installed, we’ve got you covered.
4. Replace your furnace’s dirty air filter
Before the cold-weather season arrives, replace the air filter in your furnace. If you did this at the end of the last season your furnace was in use, you can probably skip this step. But take another look at the filter just to be sure it’s clean. If it has even a small amount of dirt trapped in it, change it again. A replacement air filter only costs a few dollars, and you will most likely only have to replace it once during the season. However, it is still important that you check it once a month throughout the season and change it if it gets dirty. This is one of the simplest and most effective ways to take good care of your heating system and maintain it in good working order. If the filter isn’t changed, it will become clogged with dust, dirt, and debris and prevent air from flowing through. If this happens, your furnace will become overworked as it tries to force air through the clogged filter. This can result in major damage to your HVAC system. An easy, inexpensive detail like changing the air filter will keep your heating system working its best.
5. Schedule an annual professional HVAC inspection and cleaning
Prior to the beginning of the cold-weather season, schedule an inspection and cleaning for your HVAC system by a professional HVAC technician. Ann inspection will turn up any issues or anything that could become an issue if left uncorrected and repairs can be completed right away. A thorough professional cleaning will include your entire HVAC system, including airways and ductwork. This will remove the dust and debris that has accumulated in them throughout the months your furnace wasn’t in use. This will eliminate the burning odor you notice after turning on your furnace for the first time in the season. This odor comes from the accumulated debris and dirt being burned away.
Allow us to help you get your HVAC system ready for the icy weather ahead. Call Centerville Heating & Cooling at (937) 353-1169 or visit us online at https://www.centervilleheatandcooling.com/appointments/. We are here to meet all your heating and cooling needs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
