Winter is just around the corner, so it’s time to prepare your HVAC system for the upcoming temperature change. The last thing you want to deal with is a cold home during the winter. Below are some tips to help you prepare your HVAC system for the cold weather ahead.

1. Keep Things Clean
   Make sure nothing is blocking the air vents in your home. If the vents are covered with furniture, boxes, or other things, you’ll start feeling a general decline in warmth as the season goes on. Your furnace will have to work harder, thus shortening its life as well as increasing your energy bill.
2. Test Your Furnace
   Make sure your furnace starts up and listen for any unusual sounds, such as banging or clicking. Some problems can develop with your heating system during the off-season. You don’t want to find out when it’s cold outside that your furnace needs servicing.
3. Change the Air Filter
   It’s important to change out the air filters on a regular basis. A monthly inspection is best to assess if they are dirty or clogged. Dirty filters can cause your system to work harder, resulting in lower efficiency as well as poor air quality. Regularly filter changes will keep your HVAC system operating efficiently throughout the winter season, as well as year-round.
4. Consider Installing a Programmable Thermostat
   Programmable and smart thermostats were designed to save you money on your energy bills while keeping your home comfortable in even the most extreme temperatures. With a programmable thermostat, you can program it for a lower temperature during the night or when you’re not home, thus saving you on your energy bill.
5. Schedule a Professional Maintenance Checkup
   Schedule a professional heating system maintenance appointment. One of the best ways to ensure your heating unit is prepared for the cold weather is to have it professionally inspected. Saterlee Plumbing will fully inspect your furnace or heat pump and prepare it to keep you warm all winter long. If we find anything wrong, we discuss with you the options to fix it.

If you’re interested in preparing your heating unit for the upcoming cold weather, give Satterlee Plumbing & HVAC a call today!

1. Reduce your energy bills
   A HVAC system consumes more power because it has to run longer and work harder to reach temperature when it has a dirty, clogged filter. And when it requires more energy to run, it causes your energy bill to skyrocket. Changing your HVAC filters regularly means your system works more efficiently and needs to use less gas or electricity. When you consistently change your air filter, you can save from 5 to 15 percent on your utility costs.
2. Extend the life of your HVAC system
   You want your HVAC system to last as long as possible. HVAC systems require air flowing through them to work properly. When the HVAC filters get clogged with a thick layer of dust, that air flow is compromised. That can lead to the coils freezing or worse, an overheated compressor. Changing HVAC filters is a simple task that can prevent damage to your equipment. If you neglect changing the filter, your system may still work well for a while, but it will not last as long as it could.
3. Reduce your carbon footprint
   A HVAC system with a dirty air filter is working harder than it needs to. And that extra work means that it is using more energy than it needs to use, which is costing you money and contributing to your carbon footprint. When your air filter is changed your home will decrease its energy consumption and therefore help the environment!
4. Reduce allergens and other contaminants
   The EPA estimates that the air we breathe inside our homes can be more polluted than the air we breathe outdoors. The purpose of the HVAC filter is to reduce the amount of dust and other allergens that are circulated throughout your home. If you have pets, a clean HVAC filter is even more important because pet dander will accumulate in the system and then spread allergens throughout the household. It’s an easy fix to replace your filter and prevent air quality from deteriorating.
5. Lessen HVAC system repairs
   The most common reason a HVAC system breaks down is because of a dirty filter. As dirt accumulates, air can’t pass through and the system overheats. In a best-case scenario, your unit will need to be repaired. In the worst case, if your unit is older, not replacing filters could put it over the edge and require a new one. Replacing the filter is an easy way to lengthen the life of your heating system. When you prevent damage, you also prevent costly repairs. Lower your frequency of HVAC repairs by maintaining your system from the start.

The air your family breathes is something you shouldn’t have to worry about, so keep it clean and healthy with a home air purification system. The installation of an air purifier system can help improve your indoor air quality, providing cleaner and healthier air for your family.

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