Check the air filter: Changing the air filter is one of the easiest ways to deliver cleaner air throughout the home by removing dust and allergens at the source. In a normal home, filters should be changed every three months. In environments with excessive dust or pet dander, filters should be changed every month. This is the single most important thing that homeowners can do to maintain their hvac systems.
Inspect the outside unit: (Heat Pump units). The outside unit should be free of debris, which will allow proper airflow. Be sure to check the outdoor coil! Trim bushes/trees/weeds back to allow adequate air flow as well. While you’re there, look for signs of critters! Mice and snakes love nesting in outdoor units.
Review thermostat program settings: Modifying the temperature by as little as 3 to 4 degrees can save 9-12% in energy costs, all while maintaining maximum comfort and energy efficiency. For winter, the ideal thermostat temperature is 68 degrees Fahrenheit when you’re at home. Energy.gov suggests setting the thermostat to this temperature at home while you’re awake and lowering it while you’re asleep or away.
Install/Run Ceiling Fans: Think it’s too chilly in the winter to use your ceiling fan for circulation? Guess again. Since hot air rises, your room can feel chilly, especially if you have vaulted ceilings. A ceiling fan fixes this problem. You can easily reverse the fan blades’ direction seasonally to help distribute warm air back down into the room.
Install a humidifier: In the dry winter months, condition and humidify the air in your home with a whole-house humidifier. Your nasal passages, hair, skin, and even your furniture and hardwood floors will thank you.
Schedule a professional cleaning and service: Having a service technician clean and service the entire system, heat pump or furnace, not only improves efficiency possibly reducing energy costs, it also gives you peace of mind knowing you won’t be left out in the cold with a system that will invariably fail on either the coldest day of the year or worse, when snow is predicted. Schedule your service now as appointments fill fast this time of year. Ask about our quality annual Residential Maintenance Agreements (RMA) when you call and save on
the cost of annual service.
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