Though you should have an HVAC pro check your heating system at least once a year — and some people have it checked twice, in autumn and spring — there are still regular maintenance tasks you as the homeowner should do. Neglecting them means, among other things, that your heating might quit on the coldest day of the year. Here are some basic but needful ways to care for your heating system.
Change the Air Filters
One cannot stress this enough. Air filters are easy to overlook, but you shouldn’t overlook them. Filthy air filters stress your heating system. You’ll have to crank up the thermostat to ridiculous levels to get the rooms as warm as you’d like. Your energy bills will spike. Dirty filters blow dust and dirt into your ductwork and from there, it’ll enter the vents and the very air of your rooms.
Check the air filters every month if you have pets, if someone in your home has allergies, or someone there smokes. Check every three months if you have a high-tech HEPA filter, and the weather’s been so mild that you’re not using your HVAC system all that often.
Take Care of the Heat Pump
Homeowners who live in places with milder winters, relatively speaking, might use heat pumps. These are like reverse air conditioners with an outdoor unit. Make sure to keep a clearance of at least 2 feet around it to allow the air to flow unimpeded. Now and then, if the weather’s not freezing, you can use your garden hose to rinse out the coils. Do not use a power or pressure washer.
Keep Registers Open
The air vents and registers that bring warm air in and pull cooled air out of your rooms can be closed, but they’re not supposed to be. This is true even if you’re not using the room they’re in. Closed or blocked vents stifle the air flow and make the heating system work too hard. Make sure that no furniture, drapes or rugs are blocking the vents and registers as well.
Use the Thermostat Wisely
Smart thermostats are really a boon. Use them to program your heating with precision. For example, when you’re not home, you can turn the heat down, then use your smartphone to raise the heat when you’re on your way back. You can also lower the heat when you’re sleeping and then raise it before you get out of bed in the morning. The rule is that for every degree you turn down the heat, your energy bill goes down 1%.
Maintaining your heating system is easy, simple (they’re not the same thing), and saves you money. If you live in Wilmington, NC or a surrounding area and need heating installation services, make your first call to Anderson Air.