Tips for Getting Your Heater Ready for Fall and Winter Weather

How to Prepare Your Heater for the Colder Temperatures

Fall is the best time to maintain a home’s heater, heat pump, or furnace so the equipment is ready to distribute warm air when the temperatures get a bit cooler. Maintaining and caring for the heater can be the difference between a comfortable fall and winter and being stuck in chilly indoor temperatures when problems arise. Here are some expert tips to help homeowners prepare their heating system for the cooler weather. 

Heating System Maintenance

Like a vehicle, the heating system needs a little attention from time to time to keep it running smoothly and prevent issues. Heater maintenance also has many benefits for homeowners, like improving the heater’s efficiency, which lowers energy bills, a longer heater lifespan, and preventing problems and repairs. Some of the things that technicians check when they perform seasonal heating tune-ups are: 

• Electrical connections and gas connections
• Thermostat settings
• System controls
• Burner combustion
• Heat exchange
• Condensate drain

Changing Air Filters Routinely

Air filters play a crucial role in maintaining the air quality in homes and buildings. They are responsible for filtering out harmful pollutants, dust, and allergens from the air. However, these filters can become clogged with dirt and debris over time, which reduces their effectiveness.

Regularly changing air filters, typically at least every three months, is an essential maintenance task that should not be overlooked. It not only helps to improve the indoor air quality and the health of those in the home but also has several other benefits like helping the heating and cooling system work more efficiently and last longer since dirty air filters restrict the flow of air, causing the system to work harder and increasing wear and tear.

Monitor Your Home’s Energy Use

Heaters use a good amount of energy to heat a home, but spikes in energy usage and heating costs can indicate that something is wrong and needs repair, it’s old and inefficient, or maintenance has been neglected. But if homeowners have a heater that is well maintained, doesn’t need repair, and isn’t old, but they still want to reduce their energy bills, there are ways to do so. Here are a few tips to help save money and energy while heating the home this fall and winter:

• Weatherstripping and Insulation: Even a heater running at peak efficiency has to create more heat and use more energy when the warm air escapes out of the house through areas of the home not well insulated or cracks around windows and doors. Adding weatherstripping and insulation can reduce energy usage and help save money on heating and cooling.
• Smart Thermostat: Smart thermostats can be set to change the temperature in the home when occupants are away or asleep and have many energy-saving features, making them surprisingly convenient and effective at lowering heating bills.

About Star Air Conditioning & Heating

Star Air Conditioning & Heating has nearly 20 years of expertise serving Kissimmee and the surrounding areas. They offer 24/7 emergency response, fast turnarounds, and a beneficial membership that includes two tune-ups per year. Call them today for heating maintenance and repair in Kissimmee, FL.