Having a reliable heating system in your home is a must during the winter. Unfortunately, not everyone knows how to use their heating system efficiently. They turn their thermostats way up when it gets cold outside, block air vents, ignore basic maintenance, and otherwise do things that lower their furnace’s efficiency and raise their heating bills.
Since you can’t very well shut off your heating system during the winter, here are some tips that will keep your system running efficiently when it’s cold outside.
1. Replace Your Filters Regularly
Your furnace filter removes dust, pollen, and other pollutants that would otherwise blow through your vents and reduce your home’s air quality. Naturally, it gets very dirty, especially when you’ve been spending a lot of time at home trying your best to keep warm. Not only will a dirty air filter affect your indoor air quality, but it will also force your heating system to work harder to maintain a consistent temperature.
You should be replacing your air filter at least every three months regardless of the time of year, but that’s especially important during the winter. In fact, changing your filter every three months might not be frequent enough for your home, especially if you have a larger household. We recommend at least checking your filter every month and replacing it as needed.
2. Know How to Use Your Thermostat
It may be tempting to crank the heat up on your thermostat when you come home on a cold day, but that usually does more harm than good. Turning up the temperature on your thermostat won’t make your home heat up any faster; it just forces your heating system to work harder to reach a desired temperature.
Instead of cranking up the heat when you feel cold, try setting your thermostat to 68 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit when you’re at home and awake during the day. That’s usually the ideal temperature range if you want your home to feel comfortable without raising your energy bills too much. You can lower the temperature at night or when you’re away from home to save energy, but don’t bring it any lower than 55 degrees if you don’t want to contend with frozen plumbing or an uncomfortably cold house.
3. Keep Vents Clean and Unobstructed
Your air vents should be kept clear and free of dust if you want them to keep working for you this winter. Check your vents regularly to make sure they’re not clogged with dust, arrange your furniture so that nothing is blocking them, and make sure they’re all open to maintain proper airflow and consistent temperatures throughout your home.
4. Know When to Call an HVAC Contractor
Since there’s only so much that you can do if something is wrong with your heating system, don’t hesitate to call an HVAC contractor when you need one. Look for signs such as strange smells that don’t go away, strange sounds, and uneven temperatures in your home. If you notice any issues, contact an HVAC repair service as soon as possible. When you need heating maintenance services in Tennessee, contact Pioneer Heating, Cooling, Plumbing, & Electrical.