Tips To Prepare Your HVAC System for Winter

Your HVAC system is an essential component when it comes to you and your family’s comfort. During the hottest summer days, you are extremely thankful to have functional air conditioning. Sometimes, the gratitude for such modern technology can reach the point of wondering how people ever lived without air conditioning. Toward the end of summer and the approach of fall, your attention needs to turn to the heating part of your HVAC system. Depending on where you live, having a functional furnace during winter is no laughing matter.

There are some tips and suggestions you might want to follow to make sure you and your HVAC system are ready for the cooler temperatures ahead. If you want to prepare your HVAC system for winter and don’t want to read the full article, Get a free estimation at https://i25mechanical.com/ for your HVAC system.

Test Your HVAC System Before Freezing Temps Hit

Don’t wait until you can see your breath the moment you step outside to turn on your furnace for the first time since the end of last winter. If there are any issues with your HVAC system’s ability to heat your home, you want to know about it in advance. To make sure you find any problems, try turning it on three times before winter hits. If there is a problem with it, this will give you time to call someone and to prepare for a potentially expensive repair bill.

Change Your Air Filter

If you have central heat and AC in your home, they will typically use the same air filter. A dirty air filter is one of the simplest things any homeowner can handle. It really is as simple as pulling the existing filter out and sliding the new one in. The build-up of dust and dirt on your air filter can cause your system to have to work harder to get its job done. The prolonged delay between changing it can cause damage. On average, you should never wait longer than three months to change it. That said, check it every month. Depending on usage, it could need changing sooner.

Have You Had Your Insulation Checked Recently?

This doesn’t have to do with the HVAC system itself, but it is another tip along the lines of saving you money on your heating bill. Particularly if you have an old home, the insulation may have seen better days. If it’s old, rotted or otherwise deteriorating, it will not be doing its job as efficiently. This is costing you money in terms of your HVAC having to run longer to keep your home at a given temperature. Have a local HVAC company check the insulation in your attic and other areas of your home. You should also apply weather stripping to any doors or windows that need it.

Winterize Your Air Conditioner

Your home AC consists of the evaporator unit and the condenser unit. Of these two components, the condenser unit is located outside. It contains the condenser coils that release the heat into the outdoor air. Given this fact, your first step should be to check that nothing is blocking the slats in the metal panels covering the unit. You may even want to give it a good cleaning with your hose. You should locate its electrical circuit and flip the switch to cut power to the winter months’ unit. This will prevent a random warm winter day from making your AC turn on. This could cause water to enter the system, freezing if a cold snap quickly follows these warm temps. Finally, cover the unit with good quality, waterproof air conditioner cover.

Get a Smart Thermostat

Preparing your HVAC for winter means more than simply making sure it will work properly to keep you and your family warm. It would also be nice to cut your energy bills. If you still have a clunky old thermostat in your home, upgrading to a programmable can help accomplish this. You can set it to automatically lower the temperature at night when you are comfortable under your sheets and blanket. This can also be done for times when you know your home will be unoccupied for many hours at a time. If the home is empty during most of the day due to everyone being out at school or work, having a lower temperature during these hours will give you savings that add up throughout the season. Also, you can have the thermostat higher in the summertime, so the AC won’t have to come on as much then.

Schedule Regular Maintenance

Just about any machine runs better with regular maintenance, which is certainly true for your HVAC system. You should have an HVAC professional come out to your home once a year for maintenance service. They’ll check your furnace, AC, ducts, vents, and all other system parts. Be sure to note any issues such as smells or unusual noises or anything else out of the ordinary. Let the HVAC professional know about any problems you’re aware of. This may help them determine where to look in detecting a specific problem with your system. A furnace emits carbon monoxide, which can be dangerous. This is typically produced in very small amounts, but the levels can increase when a furnace is old or hasn’t been properly maintained. Keep your family safe and comfortable by ensuring that what is keeping you warm is also doing it safely.