Your HVAC system maintains comfortable temperatures in your home. Although it can serve you for years and has a long lifespan, consistent HVAC maintenance and care will keep it working optimally for longer. With winter being the coldest season, your HVAC unit is bound to work harder than usual to keep your home’s temperatures comfortable. It is also the time when your system is most vulnerable to breakdowns from overworking, and you don’t want an emergency with the unforgiving temperatures.
HVAC Maintenance Projects to Schedule Before Winter
1. Replace an Old HVAC System
If your HVAC system is more than 10 years old, it may have outlived its usefulness. Therefore, it is a good idea to replace it before winter sets in to avoid incurring high energy bills as well as unpleasant surprises and costly repairs. Replacing your ancient HVAC system with a new one increases its efficiency as systems that are more than a decade old are only 60% efficient. While it may be costly at first, a high-efficiency HVAC system translates to energy cost savings in the long-term.
2. Schedule a Professional Inspection
One of the most important HVAC preventive maintenance tasks before winter is a professional inspection. Schedule an inspection with professionals to help you identify any issues before they accelerate. Your HVAC maintenance team will have a look at your entire system including your furnace efficiency, gas pressure and even electrical switches and refrigerant levels to ensure they are working efficiently. The best HVAC preventive maintenance practice is scheduling an inspection twice a year: an air conditioning inspection during spring, and a heating system inspection during fall.
3. Clean Your Air Vents & Replace Air Filters
Accumulation of dirt and dust in your air vents will not only cause your HVAC system to work harder but also increase the need for repairs. Before winter, ensure that your vents are free of dust and dirt to promote good circulation of warm air in your home, and prevent blockages. Since it is recommended to check your air filters monthly and replace them at least every three months, get new filters if they are dirty. You should always change your air filters when you are switching from cooling to heating to promote good air quality in your home.
4. Insulate Your Attic
Attic insulation plays a significant role in promoting the efficiency of your HVAC system. Check the adequacy of your attic insulation and schedule for additional insulation to be installed in case it is below the recommended standards. If you can see the floor joists of your attic, you need additional insulation. However, you can always contact your HVAC technicians for help on the inspection and replacement of your home’s insulation.
5. Reprogram Your Thermostat
As chilly season beckons, you should reprogram your thermostat to match your ideal winter temperatures. You should also ensure that your thermostat has new batteries. Set the temperatures lower when no one is at home and higher when everyone is home so you can save both energy and money. If you don’t already own one, consider acquiring a programmable thermostat so that it is always on the ideal settings throughout the season. This also reduces your energy costs by up to 75%.
HVAC preventive maintenance will improve the efficiency of your system and keep it working optimally during winter when you need it the most. Contact Instant Air today at (702) 466-1884 for reliable HVAC maintenance and attic insulation services to prepare your home for winter.