There are tasks both you and your HVAC professional can do to ensure that your heating system is prepared for a long winter. Though some things are easy and inexpensive to do, don’t overlook them. Few things are more distressing than the heat giving out in the middle of a freezing cold night.
Have an HVAC Professional Check the System
A tune-up just before the heating season begins is a must if you want to make sure your home stays warm and cozy all winter. An HVAC professional is trained to find small problems a layperson would overlook and repair them. Some of the many things involved in an HVAC check include:
- Lubricating the system’s moving parts
- Testing the thermostat
- Cleaning the condensate drain
- Making sure wires and connections are sound
- Making sure safety features work
- Checking heat exchangers, flues and burners
- Checking the ducts
- Evaluate how the heating system works overall
Clean or Replace the Filters
We can’t stress cleaning or replacing your HVAC system’s filters enough. A filter clogged with dust and dirt raises your energy bill and blows dirty air into your rooms. It makes your heating system work so hard that it cuts its lifespan short. Filters are cheap, easy to find and easy to install even for a layperson. You need to not only change your filter at the start of the heating season but also change it regularly. Also, remember that you’ll probably need to change the filters more often in the winter since your HVAC system is in frequent use.
Test Your Smoke and CO Detectors
This is especially important if your heating system uses gas or propane. While the HVAC professional is tuning up your heating system, make sure that these detectors work. As with changing the filters, you need to do this regularly anyway. Just press the detector’s “test” button. If it’s silent, or the sound is weak, replace the detector. If the detector uses batteries and is chirping, it’s time to replace the batteries.
Adjust the Thermostat
Your annual HVAC checkup may coincide with that time of year when you’re using neither heating nor cooling. This is the time to adjust your thermostat in anticipation of the cold weather. Professionals recommend setting it at 68 degrees Fahrenheit. This temperature doesn’t over-stress your heating system while being warm enough to keep most people comfortable. Ask your HVAC professional for more tips on how to set your thermostat for winter.
Call Us for Heating Service
It’s important to make sure that you can rely on your heating system to get you through a long, chilly winter. If your heating system needs service, get in touch with our professionals at Peak Home Performance of Colorado Springs, CO.
