Get the Most Out of Your HVAC System this Winter
Winter is here, and your home heating system is kicking into gear. The colder it gets, the harder it needs to work to keep your home at a comfortable temperature. This sums up the importance of keeping your home heating system well-maintained; keeping it ready for when you need it the most. With that in mind, here are a few essential HVAC tips for winter and maintenance pointers to help you save money, save energy, and avoid technical difficulties this heating season.
Pay Attention to Sounds and Smells
This one is simple but important. If you have an odd sound coming from your HVAC system, or it’s unusually loud, you should have it inspected. The same goes for any strange smell circulating through your home that you think is coming from your heating. You might be reluctant to pay for system inspection, but if something is off with your system, problems only become more expensive the longer the response gets delayed.
Clean Your Heating System
Vacuum in and around your air vents and registers. Dust and lint can accumulate pretty quickly. Especially when there are a great number of people or pets in your home. If you have a large gathering in your house for the holidays, hit those vents and registers with the vacuum before and after.
This not only relates to keeping your heating system working as efficiently as possible but also improves indoor air quality. You want to keep the airflow in your home unchecked by deposits of dust, dirt, and lint in your vents and registers. Next time you’re doing some cleaning, remember to remove that dust buildup.
Change Your Air Filters
Your HVAC air filters should be replaced every month for the same reasons listed above. Your home heating system isn’t designed to work properly while circulating air through dense clusters of dust in the filters. This creates unwanted friction in the machinery that only gets worse as it accumulates. Clogged air filters may cause a system to stop working altogether.
This is one of the most useful HVAC tips for winter. Check the filters each month, and if it doesn’t appear to need replacing, at least inspect and clean them. A big part of energy efficiency is simple upkeep like this. Regularly changing out air filters each month will save you money in the long run by keeping your equipment in the best possible condition.
Consider Installing a Programmable Thermostat
Another investment that can improve your experience with your home heating system is getting a programmable thermostat installed. This is a great way to lower energy consumption (and energy bills) by reducing your usage when you aren’t home. According to the Department of Energy, you can save up to 10% a year on heating and cooling your home with a programmable thermostat.
Sure, you may be able to install a programmable thermostat on your own. But we strongly recommend hiring a professional to do so. This is because improper installation of a programmable thermostat defeats the purpose of getting one. You may end up wasting your money and energy instead of saving it.
Annual Heating Maintenance
This brings us to one of our most important HVAC tips for winter. Be sure to schedule an annual tune-up for your heating system. This should be done in the fall before the temperature plummets. But if you haven’t done so yet this year, it’s still a good idea. While it’s great to save money and keep energy consumption to a minimum, safety is the most important concern. Make sure that the electrical and fuel line connections are secure. And take every precaution to prevent a carbon monoxide leak! These are all essential winter maintenance tips that go beyond DIY.
Keep Your Heating System Happy with these HVAC Tips for Winter
With some simple upkeep and an annual tune-up, your home heating system can stand up to a long, cold winter. If you live in South Jersey, you know all too well about the winter weather we’re trying to keep outside where it belongs. When you need a tune-up, or if you ever encounter any issue with your HVAC system, reach out to the experts at Laury Heating Cooling & Plumbing.
