How To Keep Your Heating System Running Smoothly This Winter
A little professional care and mindfulness about the way and amount you use your HVAC system can go a long way in helping you keep it running smoothly. Like your car, your heating system requires some upkeep to maintain its proper function. Should you overlook essential maintenance and care, your heating system will likely experience functional problems, causing your energy bills to soar and even the possibility of complete failure when you need comforting indoor heat the most!
Here, LIBERTYAIR Air Conditioning & Heating, our HVAC company in Gainesville, FL, discusses the best ways to keep your heater and furnace running smoothly this winter. Contact our HVAC repair company today to schedule heater repair and maintenance services for efficient functioning and high indoor comfort!
Schedule An HVAC Tune-Up
When the temperature drops, it can feel like a given to simply crank up the heat and keep your furnace running on full blast. But if your heater isn’t professionally maintained regularly, chances are it won’t function properly, efficiently, or effectively, and it can also cause your monthly utility bills to skyrocket as your system works overtime to meet your preset temperature demands. That’s why scheduling twice-yearly tune-ups with LIBERTYAIR Air Conditioning & Heating is so important! During these bi-annual maintenance calls, our expert technicians inspect each part and component of your HVAC system, clean out any debris and dirt, and perform any necessary services to ensure your system runs efficiently. To learn more about our planned HVAC maintenance, contact us!
Clear Debris On A Regular Basis
In addition to a lack of proper, bi-annual furnace tune-ups, another common cause of less-than-optimal heater functionality is an accumulation of debris in and around your unit. If your furnace’s vents are clogged with dust, dirt, and other contaminants and debris, it will run less efficiently and effectively because it has to work extra hard to push air through the blocked vents. One of the best ways to keep your furnace running without disruption and at maximum efficiency is to clear debris on a regular basis. This is particularly important during the fall and winter when fallen leaves and other debris commonly accumulate and block the furnace’s vents. You should regularly inspect the air vents on your furnace and HVAC system. If you see any debris, remove it immediately.
Replace Your Air Filters
Just like your heater’s air vents, its air filters can become clogged with dust, debris, bacteria, and other contaminants. While your HVAC system’s air vents are designed to funnel air, the air filters extract airborne pollutants and contaminants for cleaner and higher-quality indoor air. But this also means that at some point, they will become clogged with the trapped debris. If your system’s air filters are clogged, they won’t be able to do their job, and it can result in problems with the functioning of your HVAC system. What’s more, allowing your system to run with dirty, clogged filters will reduce indoor air quality and cause your system to work overtime, increasing your monthly utility bills. Be sure to change your air filters every 1–3 months, depending on your household’s needs.
Check Your Thermostat Settings
Our temperate climate in North Central Florida means we don’t have to worry about waking up to several inches of snow and frigid weather conditions common to northern states. However, it can still get rather chilly here! When the temperatures drop, your first instinct may be to put on a sweater and turn up the heat on your thermostat. But it’s important to remember that turning on your furnace too often over time can potentially result in a system breakdown. If the setting on your thermostat is too high, it could cause the system to use more energy than it needs. So, be sure your thermostat is set around 68–72 degrees Fahrenheit.