Prepping Your HVAC for Cold Weather | Teems Electric

There are not very many of us in the South who love the idea of cold weather. For many of us, one of the biggest draws for living in this area isn’t just the sweet tea and southern hospitality—it is the extended spring and summer seasons and mild winter.

We may all enjoy the occasional snow shower, of course, but for many of us the cold months are just a time to stay under the blankets and bump the heat up a few degrees. Of course, that means ensuring your HVAC system is working well and is as prepared for the cold season as you and your sweatshirts are.

Fall Maintenance

In order to get your heating system prepared for the winter, it is ideal to schedule some routine maintenance with a professional in the fall. You want to start early so that any repairs that need to happen can happen ahead of the first frost.

Professional maintenance is recommended twice a year to keep your unit running well. It can feel easy to skip this if your home is reaching the temperatures you want, but scheduling a pro to come check everything out can prevent the need for more expensive repairs later and keep your electric bills lower.

There are also some things you can do on your own to prepare your HVAC. Change your filter and clean the vents around your home. Take the vent covers off and dust inside the vents as well.

You can also take a look at your attic and ensure you have plenty of insulation in order to keep your home as warm as possible and avoid overworking your unit.

Prep It All

Once you have scheduled professional maintenance, take the time to prepare your home in a few other ways. Changing the filter and cleaning the vents is a great start, but the more you can do to eliminate dust around the HVAC the better. Keeping things dust-free can not only keep the air in your home cleaner during the months we are primarily inside, but it can also help keep your unit running efficiently.

Make the switch from cool to heat a little earlier than necessary, too—that way you can ensure everything is running well before a long stretch of cold temperatures sets in. Set your thermostat a couple degrees higher than the current room temperature so it has the opportunity to run for a little bit.

Check your smoke detectors and your carbon monoxide detectors when you start prepping your HVAC for the cold. House fires are much more common during the winter, and if your HVAC runs on gas, there is a higher chance for carbon monoxide leaks. Update batteries and test alarms to ensure your home will not only be warm, but will be safe as well.

If you have a chimney or use other alternate ways of heating your home, give them some attention as well. Your chimney should be professionally cleaned and inspected every year. Take space heaters out, clean or replace any filters they have, and ensure their cords are not frayed or worn. Make sure their automatic shut-off still works, or if yours don’t have this feature, retire them and invest in safer models.

We may not love winter in the South, but it still comes even when we try to wish it away! Make sure your HVAC is ready so your home will be warm and safe all season long.

Ready to schedule HVAC maintenance? Contact us to get your home ready for winter.