It feels like last week we were bringing in the New Year. And now here we are, another year is almost over!
With only a couple months left as we countdown 2020 (a crazy year!), we urge homeowners to utilize use this remaining time to think about their HVAC systems and ask the question: Would I rather heed some easy suggestions now, perhaps making some minor precautions, or would I rather be stuck looking for an emergency furnace repair company some frigid night because I neglected my home heating system this year and now it’s broken down?
To bypass this kind of crisis, our highly skilled HVAC technicians here at Kettering-Oakwood Heating & Air made up the following list of six easy ways for homeowners to do to avoid the threat of furnace breakdown this winter:
Test Your Furnace In The Fall
With your furnace having been off since earlier this year, the best strategy to ensure it’s going to run properly again is to start using it as early as possible in the fall, to give it a test run before it gets too cold. Running it in the fall will give you an idea of its performance capacity to determine whether it seems like it is good to go. This also enables you to look for problems before it’s too late. In all likelihood, this will help to avoid the need for emergency furnace repairs.
Keep Replacing Your Air Filters
Sure, we say this all the time. However, we only do so for good reason; it’s important! Checking and replacing your HVAC system’s air filter regularly is crucial. Most homeowners know this, too, and yet far too many still fail to do so as frequently as they should. We understand this time of year is hectic; so we added this to the list to remind you. If you use the basic fiberglass air filters in your HVAC system, you should be replacing it every month during the winter. In any case, regardless of the filter, they at least need to be checked once a month during the winter to ensure they aren’t dirty or causing airflow restrictions.
Don’t Close Any Air Vents
Contrary to widespread perception, shutting the air vents or registers in the parts of your home you aren’t using to try to save money is not a good idea. The common misconception is prevalent, too as some people believe this saves them money and energy. The opposite is true in the long run as this does more harm than good. The reason closing vents isn’t helpful is because it makes your HVAC system far less efficient and puts strain on it impedes its intended operation, which can bring about other developments that are bad for your furnace and AC system.
Thermostat Battery Replacement
Sometimes, we arrive at a home to make a furnace repair and figure out there isn’t really a problem at all, at least not one that merits calling a certified HVAC technician. What are we talking about? Sometimes, a homeowner’s heat stops not working because the battery in their thermostat is dead. The homeowner would have easily figured this on their own (or better yet avoided it altogether) if they’d only remembered to change their thermostat’s battery, or at least have checked it. As such, we encourage you to keep an eye on the batteries in your thermostat. On an average, these batteries are good for three to four years. The amount of time varies a lot, so it’s not a bad idea to check every season. If your thermostat’s battery is getting older, or even if you don’t remember the last time you had to replace it, this should serve as a reminder to keep track of their age, and replace your thermostat’s batteries as often as necessary.
Your Thermostat’s Fan Settings
On the other side of the token, from time to time we have homeowners who are concerned because their furnace won’t turn off. They report to us that it’s blowing air, and running continuously, but the air it’s blowing isn’t warm. In some of these circumstances, sometimes we find there isn’t anything wrong, other than user error. In these cases, the problem is that the thermostat is on the wrong setting. Because of this, it’s important to realize the difference between the settings: “Auto” and “On.”
The following explains the importance of how to use your thermostat properly:
- The “On” Setting: If the thermostat is set to “ON” the fan will constantly run, even if the furnace is not producing heat. When the fan is “ON” it will continue to blow air through your vents regardless of the furnace.
- The “Auto” Setting: If the thermostat is on “AUTO” the furnace fan only runs if the furnace is creating heat. If the furnace stops producing heat, the fan will shut “Automatically” turn off.
Schedule Preventative Maintenance Today!!!
We realize you might grow tired of hearing it. However, we cannot emphasize this too much. Don’t let this all too important piece of advice go in one ear and out the other. Preventative maintenance is essential; it is such a wise investment that comes at such a marginal fee that pays for itself many times over. Because of this, we suggest if you haven’t done so already, to give us a call to set up your annual furnace tune up as soon as possible so you can reap the rewards of preventative maintenance. Our highly experienced HVAC technicians are top notch experts on keeping furnaces running optimally and they are happy to come over and tune up your furnace and diagnose any minor issues to ensure your system thrives through the winter.
Homeowners who have newer HVAC systems should note that almost all of the manufacturers of these newer furnaces, heat pumps and AC systems mandate they have a certified HVAC technician perform maintenance each year to keep their warranties active.
When it comes to something as intricate as a furnace or any HVAC system for that matter, it pays off in the end, in dividends, to be proactive with your expensive HVAC systems rather than being reactive. It’s no different than getting the oil changed in your car.
Just think about it: How much it would cost to replace your home heating system?
How much money have you been wasting on extra high energy bills?
We can Help! Call Kettering-Oakwood Heating & Air today at 937-502-3842, or schedule an appointment online now by clicking here!
