It’s that time of year again—is your home prepared for winter weather? As the cold sets in and the first snow draws near, now is the time to make sure your HVAC unit is ready for action. For optimum performance, consider these five simple steps that could save you costly breakdowns and repairs this winter.
1. Replace Your Air Filters
Did you know that dirty filters require more work from your HVAC unit to heat your home? Air filters should be replaced at least once every three months, especially after the long, hot summer. By replacing your filters, you’ll increase your airflow on those cold snowy nights, prevent dirty debris from circulating throughout your home and clogging your HVAC system, and prevent costly HVAC system break downs.
2. Does Your Furnace Need a Tune-up?
Like most technologies, a furnace can wear down without proper TLC. When you schedule a tune-up by a home energy expert like our sister company, UGI Heating, Cooling, and Plumbing, we’ll check all the parts—motors, switches, thermostats, etc.—to ensure your system is running smoothly. After all, the last thing you want is your furnace to break down on the coldest night of the year!
3. Clean Air Vents
Just like your air filters, your vents can collect dirt and debris and severely limit the airflow within your home. In addition to moving away any furniture blocking the vents and making sure the vents are open, clean off any dirt or dust collecting on the outside.
4. Confirm Your Programmable Thermostat Is Working Properly
It may sound surprising, but sometimes the thermostat controlling your heat isn’t always accurate. It’s easy to test this—you can either buy a separate thermostat to check for accuracy or give a UGI Heating, Cooling, and Plumbing technician a call.
If it’s working properly, you can program your thermostat to come on in the morning about 30 minutes before you wake up so the home is warm and comfortable when you get out of bed. You can also adjust it so the heat isn’t running when you’re not home and program it to come back on about 30 minutes before you return. This will save you energy and money. That’s the beauty and convenience of smart and programmable thermostats.
5. Schedule Regular Maintenance
There’s only one way to make sure your HVAC unit is running safely and efficiently—make sure you have regular maintenance by a qualified technician at least once a year. In addition to cleaning the entire system, your HVAC technician will also help you improve your indoor air quality and determine a plan of action for extending the lifespan of your unit.
Want more ideas for preparing your home energy for winter? We’re here to help. Give us a call at 1-800-427-8545 or click here.