Fall and winter in California may not be as cold as other states in the northern part of the U.S., but it still pays to take precautions to ensure your heating system remains in tip-top shape in case the weather does get colder. Checking its overall condition and assessing how you use it are a couple of things worth doing. After all, it’s likely that you’re committing home heating mistakes without knowing it. Local heating and air conditioning service provider Albert Air Inc. discusses some of the possibilities here. We also touch on some tips to ensure your home is ready for potentially cooler weather over the next few months.
All homeowners have their indoor temperature preferences, but some don’t realize that they may be making costly mistakes when it comes to creating their indoor climate. Here are some of the most common:
Never changing the preferred indoor temperature, whether anyone is around or not.
Turning the thermostat down too low before leaving the house.
Cranking the thermostat up further than necessary in an effort to heat the house faster.
None of these will be helpful to your energy bills. Turning down the thermostat too low, for instance, will just cause the furnace or heat pump to work harder when it’s time to bring the house back to the preferred temperature. In the same vein, adjusting the thermostat to its highest setting to heat the house quickly will only make the equipment run longer than it needs to.
According to HVAC experts, the following are the recommended thermostat settings for winter:
68°F to 72°F when someone is at home during the daytime.
62° to 66°F when everyone’s asleep or the house is empty.
Investing in a programmable thermostat is a great way to ensure energy efficiency and prevent your heating system from deteriorating early. It allows you to schedule your home’s indoor climate by the day or week without having to adjust it again. You can set it to turn down the heat while you’re away and warm the house back up just before you return home.
The air that moves through the HVAC system is filled with pollutants and contaminants that can affect indoor comfort and air quality. These include dust, pollen, mold and dander. Fresh air filters trap these particles, effectively removing them from circulation to keep your family safe and healthy and ensure the continued performance of your heating and cooling unit.
At some point, however, these components will become so clogged with dust and debris that they’ll make the equipment exert more effort. The HVAC system’s working parts may suffer from unnecessary wear and tear, reducing its expected lifespan and leading to a significant increase in your energy bills. Since dirty air filters can no longer do their intended job, the pollutants will start to contaminate your indoor air and may even trigger health issues for everyone in your family.
HVAC repair experts recommend replacing your heating unit’s air filter every three months. However, the frequency can vary depending on multiple factors. Here’s what you need to consider to determine how often you should tackle an air filter replacement:
Allergies – Change your filter more often than recommended if anyone in your home suffers from allergies. This way, your HVAC system can trap more allergens that may be floating around in the air inside your house.
Pets – Your furry friends shed a lot of their hair and dander, especially during the warmer months of the year. These particles then spread throughout your living space and find their way into your heating unit, which means you need to check and replace your filter regularly.
Type of filter – HVAC filters differ in many ways. Some are disposable, while others are washable and reusable. Some offer higher levels of protection against contaminants than others. High-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters, for example, can trap particles as small as 0.3 microns and catch 99.97% of airborne particles. This type of filter is much more effective than, say, flat-paneled fiberglass filters. Always choose high-quality air filters for the best results.
Your furnace or heat pump is like your car—it needs regular maintenance to keep it in good working order. After all, a well-tuned heating system will run effectively and efficiently while keeping utility costs under control. Scheduling a maintenance visit with a reliable contractor in your area will help prevent bigger–and potentially more expensive-repairs down the road. More importantly, it will preserve and even extend the system’s service life.
When you hire a certified HVAC technician for heating system maintenance, you can expect them to do the following:
Clean and tune up the interior components.
Assess its performance to ensure heating effectiveness.
Perform repairs to fix minor issues before they grow worse.
The maintenance appointment usually lasts about an hour. Generally, the pros will run the furnace or heat pump in all of its modes to check if the temperatures are correct, the unit is functioning properly and there are no indications of a malfunction.
In addition to avoiding the mistakes mentioned above, you must also protect your home and family from the winter elements. Here are some tips to keep in mind:
Check the seals around windows and doors. Sealing these openings properly will keep heated air inside your house and prevent cold outdoor air from penetrating inside. Letting leaks and drafts go unchecked can lead to inconsistent comfort levels and increased utility costs.
Apply caulk around window and door frames and in areas where wiring and piping enter your house. Make sure to use high-quality caulk to seal the gaps.
Inspect smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) detectors. Do this regularly, especially when using the furnace during the winter months or any appliance that produces CO. Test them out and replace them if they’re no longer working properly.
Your search for “heating and air conditioning repair near me” can end with Albert Air Inc., because you can count on our certified technicians to ensure consistent indoor comfort and air quality year-round. Our service maintenance agreements will provide you with routine twice-a-year maintenance to keep your heating and cooling units running in top condition and ensure optimal efficiency. For us, your comfort is our top priority. Call (714) 526-6368 or fill out our contact form to schedule a free estimate.