HVAC Tips for Dealing with the Colder Weather
As winter is sure to bear down on us here in Maryland and Pennsylvania, you’ll need to know that you can rely on your heating system to keep your home cozy and warm all night long, night after night. We may not have to build fires like our ancestors in order to fight off the winter chill, but we will need to make sure the equipment we do use to make heat is in proper working order.
So, what can you do to get the best possible performance from your HVAC system this coming winter? Read on as we walk through a few tips.
Regular Maintenance is a Good Start
As is the case with virtually everything else you own, regular maintenance for your HVAC system is a good start with regard to keeping it working properly all winter long. By working with a professional team that can come in and perform maintenance quickly and correctly, you’ll check this item off your to-do list without much trouble. You can think of this in the same what that you think about an oil change in your car – it’s just part of the process of ownership.
Not a Storage Space
Before you decide to pack some of your extra belongings around your furnace, think a little more carefully about what that appliance is doing on a day to day basis. It is producing heat for your home, which means there are some potentially dangerous things at play (such as gas, heat, etc.). Packing the space around your furnace with boxes, clothes, or anything else is just a bad idea. Commit yourself to keeping the area around your furnace clear and just put your things somewhere else.
Proper Housing for Outdoor Unit
If you are using an outdoor heat pump to supply warm air to your house, you may decide to construct a place for it to live comfortably, protected from the elements. That can be a good idea – as long as it is done properly. You need to give it space to work, and you need to give technicians space to work on it. At least a couple of feet should be provided all the way around, so the entire unit can be accessed easily when work needs to be done. Also, give plenty of space above the unit – four feet or more – so you don’t run into any operational issues.
A Frozen Heat Pump
This last tip also applies to those using a heat pump – specifically, those using a heat pump which is placed outside and exposed to the elements. When particularly cold weather sets in and ice becomes an issue, you may need to switch away from your heat pump to using an emergency heat source until the ice is gone. By trying to run your heat pump while the fan blades are covered in ice, you may end up burning out the motor – meaning you’ll likely wind up shopping for a new heat pump. Avoid this outcome by paying attention to the weather and switching away from your heat pump as necessary.
