Winter is here and that means cold and drier weather. The winter season brings a variety of adverse weather extremes from snow, ice accumulation, freezing temperatures and a high wind chill. All that makes it the perfect time for Winter HVAC tips.
Here’s a list of things you can do to ensure your HVAC is running efficiently while keeping your home toasty and warm during the cold months ahead.
- Bundle Up and Lower Your Thermostat – By wearing a sweater or sweatshirt, you might find yourself just as comfortable as wearing shorts and a t-shirt. Even a slight downward adjustment of the thermostat in the winter has a big impact on utilities.
- Using a programmable thermostat will help to avoid forgetting any changes to the thermostat, like programming the thermostat to restore the temperature just before you get out of bed and just before you get home.
- Adding an extra blanket and setting the temperature back a couple of degrees overnight can also help you save more money. Of course, set the temperature back when no one’s home.
- Walking around the outside of your home, look for plumbing and electrical penetrations through the walls. If any are not well-caulked, add extra sealant. Don’t forget to weather-strip and/or caulk doors and windows.
- If you have a fireplace that is not in use, you should seal the flue. Even closed, fireplace flues are the source of air leaks. If the fireplace is used, add custom-fitted tempered glass doors and seal the edges.
- If your system is older than 20 years, it’s time to consider replacing it. Replacing the unit with a higher efficiency unit will improve your comfort and reduce your heating costs.
- Combustion furnaces and boilers require annual maintenance to operate at peak efficiency.
Burners, for example, fall out of adjustment over the course of a heating season, wasting fuel. Beyond saving money, annual service is a safety issue for combustion heating systems.
Don’t risk your family’s safety or waste your money.
Looking ahead to colder days and nights, remember to take care of your HVAC equipment, to make sure your home is winter-ready all season long. Have a happy, healthy and safe winter!
