5 Tips to Prepare Your HVAC System for the Heating Season
Outdoor temperatures still feel pleasant in Mount Pleasant, Texas. But late fall and winter will bring a chill. As the cooling season ends, many homeowners plan ahead by maintaining one of the major resources built into their homes: the HVAC system. Here are five tips to prepare your HVAC system for the upcoming heating season.
Schedule Duct Cleaning
Does your ductwork blow excessive dust and particles out of your vents? While you may feel it just leads to a sneeze or two, it’s an indication of an ongoing problem. Schedule duct cleaning to help your HVAC system function properly. As a result, you’ll also improve your indoor air quality.
Change the HVAC Filter Regularly
When you’re busy, routine maintenance can seem like the last item on your to-do list. But just like failing to change your oil might lead to serious engine problems, failing to change your HVAC filter can lead to an unpleasant buildup of debris, which could impact your allergies and comfort.
Don’t feel embarrassed if the process of changing the filter leaves you intimidated or if you’re afraid of inhaling dust while you do it. HVAC professionals can help with this. They can also provide tips that can help you handle or schedule filter changes as a homeowner.
Seal Windows and Doors
You probably know that keeping insulation maintained keeps warm air inside over the winter. But perhaps you’ve forgotten the effect of small openings near windows and doors. If you notice that you feel particularly cold standing next to the windows in your home, chances are they have small openings that require closing with caulk. The same applies to doors or any other unintended openings to the outside. Keeping warm air inside will help maintain the health of your HVAC system in the cold season by letting it run less often.
It should save you money and keep you more comfortable because it’ll keep room temperatures more consistent. Cold air near a window could cause your thermostat to sense a low temperature even if most of the room doesn’t feel cold. Failing to solve a problem with cold air leaking in could cost you a lot more than just getting up to turn the heater off and on manually.
Clean Your Supply Vents
Chances are you might have never taken a really close look at your home’s vents. But as you do your routine dusting, you’ll notice how quickly dust accumulates on everyday items. It accumulates on vents, too. They could have a thick layer of dust if they haven’t been cleaned in a while.
Even if your home’s duct system has just been cleaned, some of that good will be undone if the clean air then comes in contact with large amounts of dust near the exit points. Vents are often awkwardly placed high up and secured in place with tight bolts. In other words, they may be very dirty even if the rest of your home is spotless. Wipe your supply vents clean at the start of every heating season to maintain good IAQ.
Don’t Forget to Protect Your AC
Though you may have heat on your mind at this time of year, HVAC professionals who come to winterize your home will also focus on protecting your air conditioning components during the off-season. Your outdoor HVAC components can accumulate autumn leaves or even ice on particularly cold days. Average lows in Mount Pleasant, Texas, reach 31 degrees in January. Therefore, you shouldn’t let current mild temperatures keep you from planning for the future. Have a professional provide complete offseason service for the unit.
When you’re ready to winterize your home’s heating, ventilation and air conditioning system, call Wood Air Conditioning & Plumbing at 903-285-6550. We can help keep you comfortable and worry-free when this year’s chill comes.
Image provided by Shutterstock