Call Us TodayHVAC Tips for the Holidays
The festive season is finally here. This means that soon you’ll be hosting guests in your house for fun activities such as football games and movie nights. It’s common for most homeowners to start decorating their homes with twinkle lights and other festive decorations.
However, most people rarely think of their HVAC systems during such times. While you’re taking your time making your living space look festive, you should also keep in mind that your HVAC system is an essential home appliance that also deserves attention.
Here are 14 HVAC tips that can help you and your guests stay safe and comfortable throughout the holiday season.
1. Check and Replace the Air Filter
Improve your indoor air quality for your friends and family, especially those who are allergic or have asthma. A dirty air filter can’t effectively remove the pollutants from your home, so contaminants such as mold, mites, pet dander and viruses can linger in the air in your living space.
What’s more, a dirty filter restricts the airflow into and out of your home and makes your entire system strain to maintain desired temperatures in your home. This makes it hard for you to benefit the most from your HVAC system. Depending on your air filter and how often you use your system, it’s always in your best interest to replace the filter every 30 to 90 days.
2. Turn Down Your Thermostat
With your home full of people for the festive season and many activities taking place, it’ll undoubtedly heat up. It’s wise to anticipate this ahead of time and turn down your thermostat. This makes your home as comfortable as possible.
If you have a programmable thermostat, you can effectively schedule the temperature adjustment. If you’ve got guests who may get cold because of the turned down thermostats, have blankets ready.
3. Fix Air Leaks
Check all windows and doors of your home for drafts. Weatherstripping and caulking are simple and effective solutions for sealing air leaks. Adding these sealants doesn’t only make your system function better, but it also lowers your energy bills.
4. Schedule an HVAC Maintenance Appointment
You’ll rarely want to have an issue with your heating or cooling unit, especially if you’ve got visitors on the way. Even when things seem to be in perfect condition, it’s always good to be on the safe side by scheduling regular preventive maintenance services.
These services can help increase the longevity of your system. Additionally, they can also help you address small issues before things worsen and turn into costly repairs and maintenance.
5. Clear Your Outdoor Unit
Dirt, twigs, and other debris can make their way into your outdoor unit. Such unwanted elements can damage your HVAC unit and compromise its performance.
That’s why it’s always advisable to check your system components, such as the condenser, to ensure that it’s clean. This can significantly help you avoid comfort issues during this festive season.
6. Inspect Your Electrical System
It’s a beautiful sight to see your kids jumping and singing Christmas carols with Christmas lights glowing in and around your home. However, before you start hanging the lights and setting them up, you need to thoroughly check the lights, plugs, cords, and, most importantly, the electric system. You can rely on a certified technician for a complete inspection.
7. Keep Flammable Objects in Safe Places
Although this seems pretty obvious, it can get dangerous with kids running around. Ensure that you keep things like wrapping paper and blankets away from heating systems such as space heaters to avoid fire hazards. In case you’re traveling, do a quick, thorough checking before leaving.
You’d be surprised by the number of house fires that start each year because of flammable objects being caught up in heating vents or because of a Christmas tree too close to a furnace.
8. Consider Alternative Methods of Heating
Simple things like keeping your shades open and using ceiling fans can help keep you and your family members warm. Locate the switch on the bed and turn it on. This helps the blades to rotate in the opposite direction.
Through this, the fan can circulate warm air trapped on the ceilings downwards into the rest of the house. Keeping your blinds open can also help you get more natural light. All in all, both can help your HVAC system so that it won’t have to work as hard to maintain your desired temperatures.
9. Get an HVAC Inspection
Reaching out for heat pump, boiler, or furnace maintenance services won’t hurt! If you don’t remember when the last time you scheduled an inspection was, you should consider doing so before the weather gets too cold and ruins your holiday.
HVAC inspections can help you catch minor issues before they become major problems. You can rest assured of having peace of mind when you’re traveling for a vacation or entertaining your friends.
10. Check Your Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Carbon monoxide is a gas that occurs naturally as a byproduct of gas furnaces. Old or clogged venting can cause a build-up of carbon monoxide in the vents. This can prove to be fatal. Always ensure that your CO detectors are up and fully functional. Doing this can save you a lot of time and money in the case of an emergency during the festive season.
11. Use the Fireplace
During cold holiday seasons, it’d be helpful to use your home’s fireplace to keep warm. Apart from creating an ambiance in your home, fireplaces can heat your living space. This makes it easy for you to drop your thermostat, saving you a lot of money on energy bills.
12. Get a Whole-house Humidifier
Installing a whole-house humidifier is another holiday heating tip. With a humidifier on your premises, you can rest easy knowing that your entire home will feel warmer. This allows you to adjust the thermostat. This, in turn, helps you even out your home’s temperature. It also eliminates dry hair, increasing your home’s comfort.
13. Don’t Cover Your Thermostat
With the festive vibe in the air, you can easily get carried away while decorating your home to the extent of covering your thermostat with decorations. These decorations can cause the thermostat to misread the home temperature. This will result in increased energy bills and suboptimal comfort.
14. Use Space Heaters
Consider installing some space heaters in your home. This is especially useful if you reside in cooler areas. Just like the whole-house humidifiers, space heaters also give you the opportunity to even out the temperature in your home without changing the thermostat settings.
Rely On The Experts
Hoff Heating & AC wants you to have peace of mind during the holiday season in O’Fallon and the surrounding areas. From heating installations to maintenance to repairs, you can count on us for top-notch services. Our certified and trained technicians have the experience needed to service your air conditioner, heat pump, and furnaces of all makes and models.
Contact Hoff Heating & AC today for more HVAC tips for the holiday and to schedule an appointment.
