Is your winter heating system ready for the upcoming cold weather? Now is a great time to make sure it is. Below, we have some easy-to-follow tips on how you can prep your heating equipment (and your family) for the winter ahead. Plus, find out where to get professional HVAC service you can count on no matter the season.
Schedule Your Heating Maintenance
The first step you should take when preparing your heating system for a cold and wet Cape Cod winter is to schedule professional maintenance. This is when a qualified HVAC professional will inspect your system, clean key components, lubricate moving parts, and check for signs of wear and tear.
Take Care of Your HVAC Filters
Next, make sure you’re cleaning or replacing your HVAC filters regularly. Not only do clogged filters restrict airflow and force your system to work harder, they also wreak havoc on your indoor air quality. This leads to more energy consumption during the winter and increases allergies, headaches, and other uncomfortable symptoms associated with contaminated indoor air.
Test Your Thermostat
It’s also key to make sure that your thermostat is working properly by testing it well before the cold weather sets in. The last thing you want is to have to deal with replacing your batteries at night when it’s freezing out and no stores are open.
Start by setting your thermostat higher than the current room temperature and listening for your heating system to turn on. Then, measure the ambient temperature of your air with a separate thermometer to check if it matches the setting on your thermostat. If it doesn’t, you can use the manufacturer’s guide to troubleshoot any issues or reach out to a qualified professional to see if anything is wrong or needs to be repaired.
Clear Debris Away From Outdoor Units
Your outdoor condenser should also be cleaned and maintained in the fall before winter is in full swing. Start by removing any debris and low-hanging tree branches from your condenser, making sure there’s at least two feet of space around all sides of the unit to allow for proper airflow and prevent the system from overheating or freezing up.
Test Your Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Testing your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors often is critical for protecting the safety of your home and family, especially during the heating season when the risk of fire and carbon monoxide poisoning increases.
In fact, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reports that as many as 88% of home heating fire deaths involved one or more types of space heaters and nearly half of all home fires occurred during the months of December, January, and February.
As for carbon monoxide, the CDC estimates more than 100,000 people visit the emergency room and over 400 Americans die each year from unintentional CO poisoning. Keeping your carbon monoxide and smoke detectors in good working order is an easy and inexpensive way to prevent critical and potentially life-threatening issues.
Set Your Ceiling Fans to Turn Clockwise
While ceiling fans are most often associated with cooling in the summer, they can also help distribute warm air during the winter. However, which direction your ceiling fans turn is key. In a typical room, warm air naturally rises and collects near the ceiling. This causes the upper part of the room to feel warmer than the lower areas where you typically sit or sleep. But when you adjust your fan to spin clockwise, it creates an updraft that pulls cool air up and pushes warm air down where you can feel it.
Contact a Qualified Cape Cod Heating Professional
At Cape Cod Heat Pumps, we can help you get affordable, energy-efficient heating for your home or business all winter long. Whether your heating system needs a tune-up or you need a new heater, we can help. Contact us today for service by calling 508-833-4822.