Five Ways to Make Sure You System is Ready to Stand Up to the Next Cold Front

Winter is hitting its stride River Valley area and that means your heating system is about to do a lot more of the heavy lifting necessary to keep your home comfortable all season long. Is your system up to the challenge? Here are five maintenance tips from AffordaBull Heat & Air that will help you keep your family warm and cozy all winter long. 

Regularly Clean your Air Filter

At the risk of sounding like a broken record, one of the most important aspects of HVAC maintenance really is a simple as regularly changing out your air filter. A dirty air filter makes your heating system work even harder, putting unnecessary stress on your home’s HVAC system. Not only that, when your system has to work harder it also requires more energy, which ends up coming out of your wallet.

Clean your Air Vents

Next time you're vacuuming around the house, take off your vent covers and vacuum out the air vents as well. This will help prevent any blockage inside the vents as well as improve your home’s indoor air quality. Removing any blockage within the vents will help better maintain a consistently comfortable temperature throughout the home. However, if you’re noticing a significant amount of buildup on your air vents, it’s probably worth scheduling an air duct cleaning to remove all the grit and grime your vacuum cleaner can’t reach. 

Add Some Insulation

A good HVAC system can only do so much, especially if your home is prone to leaking air and heat. While not technically part of your home’s HVAC system, good insulation is critical to both the comfort of your home and its energy efficiency. And since hot air rises, a well-insulated attic is critical.

Checkout the Thermostat

A good habit to start is replacing your thermostat’s batteries at the start of the winter. You don’t want to be scrambling for fresh batteries to power your system’s thermostat when the temperature drops below freezing. You can also save on energy costs by setting your thermostat to a lower temperature at bedtime and while you’re away at work. This is made even easier by upgrading to a programmable thermostat. 

Schedule an Inspection

If you didn’t already schedule a heating inspection this past fall, now is the time. The experts at AffordaBull Heat & Air will be able to identify any wear and tear that needs to be addressed before it starts to affect both the efficiency of your system and its lifespan. Give us a call at 479-747-6548 and we’ll make sure that your HVAC system is ready to stand up to the next cold front!