How to Properly Prepare Your HVAC System For Winter
Winter’s lurking around the corner, preparing to obliterate your home with swaths of snow, ice, and cold. If you want to make it through in one piece, you have to prepare your home to face such elements.
What you might be wondering, though, is how to prepare your HVAC system. Are there things you should be doing so that it performs at max capacity throughout the winter? The answer is yes, and we’re going to discuss those things below.
Change the Air Filter
First and foremost, you need to change your air filter. This way, your HVAC system won’t have to contend against any dust or other residue and will be able to function to the best of its capabilities.
HVAC air filters should be changed every two to three months, anyways. But because winter requires such constant HVAC use, your system needs to start with a clean slate.
Turn the Temperature Down a Few Degrees
When winter rolls around, the goal with your HVAC system should be to keep your home comfortable without spending an absurd amount of money. You can do this by simply turning your thermostat down a few degrees.
Keeping your home at 70 degrees as opposed to 72 degrees, for example, will still keep your home relatively warm, all while taking some of the strain off of your HVAC system. Just add another layer of clothes if you start to feel a little cold.
And when night sets in and you can be under the cover of blankets, consider turning the temperature down even more. Some homeowners turn their thermostats down as much as 8 degrees while they sleep during the winter.
Prepare the Furnace Area
Another thing you’ll want to do is to prepare the furnace area. You’ll want to make sure that there’s some clearance on each side of the furnace. This way, it can be properly ventilated and not cause carbon monoxide to leak out into your home.
Keep an eye on your vents as well. Make sure that they’re not covered, and that they can release air to the best of their capabilities.
Schedule a Tune-Up
The last thing you want during the winter months is for your furnace to stop working. As such, before the snow comes falling down, you need to make sure to have your furnace tuned up by a professional HVAC technician.
This will enable you to catch small problems before they turn into big problems, and will also ensure that your HVAC system is clean and ready to perform at max capacity.
Need Help Preparing Your HVAC System?
As you can see, there’s a lot that needs to be done in order to prepare an HVAC system for winter. Not able to do all of it on your own? If so, and if you’re in the Joplin, Missouri area, we here at JM Smith HVAC can help you.
Our HVAC company provides a range of HVAC services, from repair to maintenance to cleaning and more. Not only will we ensure that your AC is properly shut down for the season but we’ll also make sure that your heating system is ready to go.
Contact us now to schedule an appointment!
