Winterize Your Home for the Winter
Winter is coming. (In comes Game of Thrones music.) While you shouldn’t have to prepare quite the same way the Starks and Lannisters will, it’s still critical to make sure your home is ready for the cold. Here are a couple tips from Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning to get you started.
Clear Space Surrounding Air Returns
You shouldn’t need cold air returns in the winter right? Wrong. Verify your air returns (the bigger vents) are not obstructed and that air can easily flow through them. Your cold air returns are necessary to help your heating system run efficiently.
Update Your Windows
Windows are a common way that heat can leak out your home, so contemplate replacing old or inefficient windows to help retain heat inside during the winter months.
Replace Your Home’s Air Filters
With cold and flu season coming soon, you want to verify you’re doing all you can to keep your family healthy. For the sake of your indoor air, replace your furnace or duct air filter every 12 weeks. This will also help your system run more efficiently and save you energy, which means lowering your heating bills.
Invest in an Energy-Efficient Heating System
If your furnace is older than 10 years, it’s almost certainly not nearly as energy-efficient as newer heating systems. Before the winter hits and you’re stuck with a malfunctioning furnace or high energy bills, consider replacing your system.
Purchase a Whole-Home Humidifier
It may not sound right, but higher humidity, particularly in northern climates, can result in your home’s air feeling warmer than it is. Include the other benefits of decreasing dry skin and static, and a whole-home humidifier may be the ultimate addition to your HVAC system.
Get a Programmable Thermostat
We can’t say it enough – a programmable thermostat saves you energy and money no matter what time of year it is. A programmable thermostat will allow you to decrease your home temperature while you are at work to help lower heating costs, and raise the temperature before you even get home to provide the perfect amount of home comfort.
Add or Upgrade Attic Insulation
Having the ideal amount of attic insulation helps keep heat from escaping during the winter, saving you energy because your heating system doesn’t have to operate as much, and therefore saves you money by lowering your heating costs. Ask your local utility companies about rebates for installing or upgrading your attic insulation.
Wrap Plumbing
If you insulate your hot water pipes, it can actually help increase the temperature a few degrees. Warmer water on a lower setting? That lowers your energy use and bills – yes, please!
Get a Precision Tune-Up
Make sure your heating system is ready to keep your home warm and comfy all winter long with an expert Precision tune-up from Service Experts. This month we are providing discounts on our heating tune ups to help make sure your home stays warm and safe through the cold months. Call 239-908-6991 today to schedule your Precision tune-up or set up a no-charge in-home estimate on a new, energy-efficient heating system.
