The shift from the hot days and warm nights of summer to the cooler days of fall and winter can occur suddenly. Marking your calendar with tasks to complete before the onset of cold winter will ensure that you and your family stay safe during the winter months.
Read more here about the importance of HVAC maintenance and the steps that you should take before winter.
Adjust your HVAC Settings
Many homes now have programmable or Smart thermostats. If you do not yet have one, now is a great time to have one installed in your home. When you have your annual HVAC maintenance performed, ask your technician about a new control system for your HVAC unit. In preparation for the winter, make sure that you change the settings on your thermostat to your needs for the colder weather.
Additionally, another HVAC adjustment to make is to ready your air conditioning units for the winter. Many HVAC companies recommend covering your outdoor air conditioning units with a piece of plywood. Place a brick or rock on the board, so it stays in place. This will protect your unit from any debris that falls in the winter.
Clean Clutter & Debris
If over the summer months, ‘stuff’ found its way around your furnace, it’s time to clean up. While it’s never recommended to store anything around your furnace, even when it’s not in use, you definitely do not want clutter to block your furnace’s need for air.
Your air registers should be kept open during the entire year. As a step of your winter HVAC preparation, go around your home and make certain that your supply and return registers are open and free from any blockage or clutter.
Change your Air Filters
You should change your air filters on a regular basis. If you are not certain about the timing of changing filters or how to remove and install new filters, schedule your appointment online with your HVAC technician to learn how. A qualified HVAC service provider can also tell you which filters will work best in your system.
Improve your Home’s Air Quality
Changing your air filters will help with the efficiency of your units and your home’s air quality. Filters accumulate debris, particles, and pollutants from the air. This improves the air quality that you and your family breathe in. However, if the air filters are clogged, you can now be inhaling those pollutants. During the winter months, many people spend more time inside, so cleaner indoor air is important.
Save Money
When you have your HVAC system serviced to prepare for the winter, it will operate more efficiently. Not only will this provide a sense of well-being, but it will also save you money on your monthly energy bill. Pre-winter tune-ups can also prevent unexpected and expensive repairs. Your qualified HVAC technician will note any parts of your system that are not operating effectively. They can replace parts before worn and torn components cause a system malfunction.
