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As you start to pull out your winter clothes from storage, it’s time to start thinking about preparing your home for the cold weather ahead. One aspect you don’t want to overlook is your heating system. We will share our best tips to ensure your heating system is ready for winter.
Program Thermostat
As it transitions from hot to cold outside, you want to do the same with your thermostat. Once you have it in heating mode, ensure it’s set on automatic and not on. This will ensure that your heating system will only kick on when the temperature dips below your settings. Using a programmable or smart thermostat is highly recommended to optimize your energy usage throughout the wintertime.
Test System and Check Air Vents
It’s always a good idea to test-run your system before the winter to ensure it works properly. Pay close attention to any odd noises, as they can indicate an issue with your system. It’s normal for your system to produce an abnormal smell when it starts running. However, it should dissipate within a few minutes.
As you test-run your heating system, check each vent to ensure it works properly. It may take a few minutes before your system starts producing heat at each vent. All of your air vents should be free from obstructions and completely open. Be sure to remove any stuck-on debris or grime on the surface of your vent to prevent that debris from entering your ductwork.
Seal up Air Leaks
It’s normal for homes to develop air leaks on their exterior walls. This happens through the natural settling process of your home, and it’s most prominent around door and window frames. It’s recommended that you take a few minutes and run your hand around all your door and window frames to identify any particular leaks. You can use weather stripping or caulking material to seal up those unwanted leaks.
Check Your Insulation
Adequate insulation is essential to ensure that your heating system doesn’t overwork this winter. It acts as a barrier between the cold weather outside and the hot temperature inside your home. Having insulation with an R-value that meets or exceeds the building code recommendation for your area is absolutely necessary.
If you have batts of insulation in your attic, then its R-value rating should be listed on its paperback. If you have loose insulation, you can measure its depth to determine its overall R-value. While it depends on your specific type of insulation, an inch of thickness typically results in an R-value of 6. This means if your loose insulation is 3 inches thick, it will have an R-value of around 18. In general, if your insulation doesn’t come up to the top of the floor joists in your attic, you likely need more insulation.
Change Ceiling Fans
Ceiling fans are one of the best ways to help supplement your HVAC system with temperature control inside your home. As we transition into winter, you want to flip the settings on your ceiling fans so that they’re spinning clockwise. This is important as leaving your ceiling fans spinning counterclockwise will force air onto you and make you feel colder. When your ceiling fan operates clockwise, it takes the heat from the top of your room and pushes it outward toward your walls. This allows it to travel down your walls and back to the floor level to be reused.
Test Safety Features
Some of the best safety items you can get to monitor and handle furnace issues are smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, and fire extinguishers. Ideally, you should have working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors on each level of your home and around each bedroom. You should have a fire extinguisher near your heating system so that you can quickly access it in an emergency. You want a type C or an ABC-rated fire extinguisher to ensure it can put out the electrical components that can catch fire.
Get Fuel Ordered
If you use electricity or natural gas to power your heating system, then you don’t have to worry about getting fuel. However, if your heating system relies on propane or heating oil, you’ll need to get a fuel delivery soon. Many homeowners find it much easier to sign up for automatic delivery service so that they don’t forget to order fuel throughout the winter. It also doesn’t hurt to have a spare supply for emergencies.
Get Chimney Sweeping
Your heating system burns fuel to create heat, producing toxic by-products. These are vented out of your chimney, and some creosote and other similar materials can build up on the lining of your chimney. It’s a good rule of thumb to have a chimney sweep come in to clean out and inspect your chimney every year. This helps to guarantee that there’s no flammable debris inside your chimney and helps to catch any potential repair issues that should be addressed before the winter months.
Replace HVAC Filter
Your HVAC system has a built-in air filter responsible for protecting its internal components. This filter traps airborne particles, like dust and pollen, to prevent them from entering the internal section of your HVAC system. Additionally, this filter helps to enhance the quality of air inside your home. As you go through your heating system maintenance checklist, replace the filter inside your heating system. Ensure you have at least one extra filter to replace it when necessary.
Book Professional Service
Another must-do for preparing your heating system for winter is booking a professional maintenance service. The service will include an inspection of the internal components of your system. Heater repairs and maintenance are essential for providing reliable performance and energy efficiency. Typical repairs include fixing faulty thermostats, replacing worn-out parts, or addressing ignition and airflow issues. Regular maintenance usually includes inspecting burners and checking electrical connections. This helps prevent breakdowns, improves efficiency, and extends the heater’s lifespan.
Routine care also ensures consistent warmth during colder months and reduces energy bills by keeping your system running smoothly and preventing costly repairs in the future. Furthermore, most heating system manufacturers require you, as a homeowner, to have your system serviced by a professional at least once a year to maintain the warranty coverage on your system.
Cover Your Outdoor AC Unit
If you have an outdoor condenser unit for your air conditioning system, it’s essential to cover it for the winter months. Ideally, you’ll want a solid cover on top of it to protect any debris from getting down into the unit. Additionally, you’ll want breathable fabric to cover all sides. This fabric should be strong enough to keep out debris while allowing excess moisture inside your unit to escape the outdoor air.
Professional Heating System Maintenance Service
Atticman Heating and Air Conditioning, Insulation provides exceptional heating system maintenance services to Sacramento, CA. Our technicians can assist with all your heating, air conditioning, ductwork, insulation, water heater, whole-house fan, and electrification needs. Simply give our office a buzz today to schedule your next heating service consultation.
