Prepare Your Heating System with These Simple Tips
With winter and the holidays around the corner, homeowners should ask themselves if their heating system is ready for reliable and consistent use. The bitter cold and additional use during holiday entertaining can result in extra wear and tear without the proper preventative steps and ultimately impact comfort.
Here, the HVAC experts at GEM Plumbing & Heating explain why the holiday season is tough on your heating system and offer simple steps you can take to reduce the risk of system breakdowns and keep your heat operating at peak performance.
Winter Weather & Its Impact on Your heating System
When temperatures drop in Massachusetts, it can put a serious strain on your heating system, especially during the holiday season. The intensity of winter storms can leave your heat working hard to keep your home or vacation property at the ideal temperature.
Plus, holiday celebrations also mean visitors and guests in your home. This may mean heating additional areas that aren’t usually heated, like guest rooms or basements, and an overall increased use of your system. It’s essential to ensure your system is ready for this extra demand.
7 Steps to Prepare Your Heating System for the Holidays
Don’t get stuck on the coldest day of the year without any heat. Instead, ensure your system is ready and reliable with these simple steps:
- Replace air filters: Dirty or clogged air filters restrict airflow to your heating system and make it work harder. Start the season with fresh filters to improve efficiency and indoor air quality.
- Test your thermostat: Make sure your thermostat is calibrated correctly and programmed to reflect the winter season and any holiday schedule adjustments.
- Check vents and registers: When moving furniture to accommodate extra seating for entertaining or your Christmas tree, ensure that registers and vents aren’t blocked to prevent restricted airflow issues.
- Inspect and clean ductwork: Removing dust and debris from your ductwork can improve indoor air quality and ensure that your system can provide even heating throughout your home.
- Clear your outdoor unit: Ensure there’s at least 2 feet of clearance around your furnace, boiler, or heat pump. This reduces fire risks and supports proper ventilation.
- Replace carbon monoxide batteries: If your home has a gas-powered heating system, protect your family from carbon monoxide poisoning by ensuring your detectors work correctly.
- Schedule a heating tune-up: With heating maintenance from GEM, you can ensure your system is ready for the winter weather. We’ll find and fix any minor issues before they get worse and tune up your system to work at maximum efficiency.
Schedule a Heating System Tune-Up Today
For all your heating needs this holiday season, choose the team at GEM. Our licensed and certified technicians are available to perform 24/7 emergency HVAC services. Plus, we offer maintenance plans to help our customers streamline their HVAC maintenance and save.
We’re a company committed to family values with 75 years of experience in the industry. Choose GEM for all your heating service needs in Rhode Island or Massachusetts.
Schedule heating services in New England by calling GEM today.
