Texas winters are brutal, making it essential for homeowners to take the basic precautions to ensure their HVAC systems can survive the season. Getting your heating, air conditioning, and ventilation equipment ready for the cold weather is imperative because any problem with the unit can cause you discomfort and higher energy bills. Call your trusted HVAC specialist in Austin, TX to ensure your system is working optimally in the winter season.
Here are some of the most essential HVAC winter tips to get the most out of your HVAC system in the cold season.
1. Replace Your Air Filter
This is a simple yet very important task for HVAC maintenance. An HVAC air filter sieves out impurities to clean the air that passes through the system. But when it becomes blocked with dust and debris, the filter can reduce the airflow, making the system work more vigorously.
By checking the filter at regular intervals and replacing it if it’s blocked you can make sure that clean, warm air flows throughout your indoors. It also decreases energy bills and prevents your HVAC unit from overworking, thereby limiting breakdowns and AC repair in Austin, TX.
2. Check the Vents
When you call for AC maintenance in Austin, TX to check the air filter, we also recommend checking the HVAC vents for dust and dirt that may build up over time. These layers can reduce your home’s air quality and build blockages that make the system work too hard.
If there is a substantial growth of impurities in the air vents, you can clean them with a hose attachment or schedule professional air conditioning maintenance in Austin, TX.
3. Ensure Your Home is Properly Insulated
While home insulation is not an HVAC concern, it critically affects the temperature and energy effectiveness of a house.
Typically, heat flows from warmer to colder places. That means heated air will leak through spaces around the doors and windows, and gaps in your attic, roof, and other parts. Insulating these zones will help keep warm air from getting out.
4. Check Your Thermostat
Check your thermostat before the winter season hits hard. Ensure your thermostat has new batteries and is ready for your winter comfort requirements. To save energy, we advise you to set your thermostat to a lower temperature at night and also while you are away from home. Turn it up when you are home.
Another recommendation is to upgrade to a programmable thermostat. This will help you keep your thermostat set on the most economical setting all season long.
5. Cover the Outside AC Unit
Covering your outside AC unit is another simple way to avoid Air Conditioning Repair in Austin, TX. Keeping the unit covered during winter months blocks debris from collecting on it and shields it from ice, snow, and even animal infestation.
6. Check for Any Strange HVAC Noise
If you notice any strange sound or smell or any other change in the HVAC system then it is a clear indication to have it checked.
Loud sounds indicate that the system is struggling harder to perform accurately. Only a professional forAC repair in Austin, TX will be able to tell what issue is causing the noise. Odds are, the furnace is clocked or needs repair.
The same applies to weird smells coming from your heating system. Don’t hesitate to call an HVAC maintenance service provider to identify the problem before it’s beyond repair. Moreover, if you wait longer speculating your best options then you will end up spending more money on repairs, or even worse, you’ll be forced to consider buying a new HVAC system altogether.
7. Schedule Annual HVAC Maintenance
An annual heating tune-up might not sound essential. But to have an HVAC specialist service your unit every year is crucial for its optimum functioning. Heating maintenance is a vital part of furnace ownership and may even be expected by your manufacturer to keep your warranty active. Not only that, but professional and timely maintenance helps:
- Add years to the lifespan of your HVAC system
- Enhance energy efficiency
- Cut the heating costs during the winter months
- Reduce furnace repair needs and untimely breakdowns
- Boost overall system performance
Experts recommend having your HVAC unit checked at least twice each year, preferably at the beginning of winter and summer.
Bottomline on HVAC Tips to Get Your Home Ready for Winter
Now you know the 7 best winter HVAC tips. Maintaining the HVAC system properly before the winter starts will make sure the system is equipped to handle the cold.
As always, HVAC maintenance should be performed by a knowledgeable and licensed HVAC specialist. If you haven’t done it already, now is a perfect time to call Texas Reliable Services in Austin, TX for HVAC system maintenance.
