Keeping Your HVAC Healthy During the Holidays
The winter holidays are a time of family, friends, good cheer, warmth, comfort, renewal, and celebration. The last thing anyone wants to deal with is their heat going off, particularly during the week between Christmas and New Year’s, when HVAC companies operate on a skeletal staff to give their employees time with their families. In fact, we don’t want to have to think about our HVAC system at all.
As we plan to spend more time indoors, we will rely more on our home heating. To keep ourselves, our pets, and our guests snug and warm during the holidays, we must make the HVAC system part of our preparations.
More than that, heating bills spike again around the holidays following the mild temperatures of the fall. That makes it doubly important to help ensure the HVAC system runs optimally for the holidays.
Schedule an HVAC Tune-Up
The first and most important action to take is to schedule a pre-holiday HVAC service call to avoid an HVAC emergency in the middle of winter or with a house full of guests, maintain that cozy ambiance while celebrating the holidays, and minimize those utility bills.
The HVAC professionals at Holley Heating and Air will inspect all the mechanical and electrical systems, clean dirty parts, and check that everything is in good repair. They will examine the ducts and vents for excess buildup of dirt and dust, check the coolant level, clean the evaporator coil and condensate drain, review the calibration of the thermostat, lubricate where needed, do a safety inspection of the entire system and alert you if the air filters need to be changed or ducts need to be cleaned. They might suggest steps to secure your unit’s safety and more efficient operation, including replacing it with a more up-to-date model.
After that, there are some simple steps you can take to improve the operation of your HVAC.
Replace the Air Filters Regularly
Because you’re indoors more, wearing more clothing, and perhaps even enjoying a nice fire in the fireplace, there is more dust and smoke buildup in the house than during other seasons. Check the filter every month and replace it when it gets dirty to keep the air you breathe healthy.
Clean the Vents and Air Ducts
Along those same lines, peer into the ducts and determine if there is buildup, or hire a service if it has been more than five years. Any particles floating around the ducts will end up in the house and your lungs.
Fill Leaks and Insulate
Wherever the outdoors meets the indoors, heated air can leak out, wasting your money and forcing your heater to work harder. Check around doors and windows for leaks and fill them wherever you see them. Check your roof for poorly insulated areas and add some insulation. Heat can radiate through walls without sufficient insulation to hold it in. The Insulation Institute recommends R-38 insulation for attics and walls in Southern states.
Adjust the Thermostat
The Department of Energy recommends keeping your thermostat at 68-70 degrees during the winter and lowering it at night and when you are away or cooking. Better yet, purchase a programmable thermostat that allows you to set the temperature in advance, even while you are not home. Close the doors of unused rooms while you’re at it so you’re not heating them, too.
Take these steps for a happy holiday season with all your loved ones.
At Holley Heating & Air Conditioning, your comfort is our #1 concern. Air conditioning system maintenance is the key to keeping your system up and running efficiently and cost-effectively. You can trust our experienced team to keep your system running smoothly in all seasons. Call us to schedule an appointment today.
