HVAC Maintenance Tips to Keep Your Home Cozy This Winter

Even with our milder winters here in Gilbert, AZ, the chilly nights do come. Taking care of your HVAC system is one of the best ways to ensure you stay warm and cozy throughout the winter. It requires minimal effort but can have significant results, ranging from extending the lifespan of your heating system to reducing your energy bills. Let’s discuss a few of the winter HVAC maintenance tips to keep in mind.

Change the Air Filters

It’s a good idea to change the air filter in your HVAC system at the end of fall before you’re ready to turn the heat on for winter in Gilbert. You should typically swap out the dirty filter for a new one every three months, but if you have pets, it’s ideal to change it more often, even once a month. This prevents fur, dander, and other debris from clogging up your air filter and entering the HVAC system, hindering the system’s efficiency.

Schedule a Seasonal Tune-Up

Scheduling a seasonal tune-up for your HVAC system in Gilbert is more important than some homeowners might realize. These appointments have a major impact on the efficiency of the system. They also help extend your HVAC system’s lifespan, making it easier to enjoy its heating perks for much longer before the system needs a replacement.

Schedule your appointment in the fall, if possible. However, if you have yet to set one, it’s not too late to do so. Our expert HVAC technicians are available for tasks ranging from replacing the air filter to cleaning the condenser coils.

Seal Leaks

Leaks threaten the coziness in your Gilbert home. Instead of enjoying comfortable, warm heat, you’re wondering why cold drafts are flowing through your space, and you can’t get as warm as you would like.

Sealing leaks and preventing drafts at your Gilbert home is surprisingly easy. Your first step should be walking around your home and noting where the leaks are, such as around doors and windows. Options you can do range from installing window film to replacing the parking around your windows.

Open the Blinds and Curtains

Rather than cranking up the heat at your Gilbert home, consider giving your HVAC system a bit of a break by opening the blinds and curtains throughout your home. It lets in the natural sunshine and warmth rather than relying strictly on your heating system. This can be particularly beneficial in the main living spaces, such as the living room, kitchen, and dining room.

Install a Smart Thermostat

A smart thermostat allows you to conveniently control your HVAC system, whether you are home or away. It can help you reduce energy usage while decreasing your heating bills.. You can set a daily schedule right from an app on your phone and make adjustments if necessary. Many smart thermostats also learn your typical habits, making it easy not to waste energy, especially when nobody is home

Clear Items Away From Vents

Having items blocking your heating vents, even temporarily, can significantly affect how warm each room in your Gilbert home gets. For example, if you rearrange the furniture for the holidays and put a couch over the vent, it’s blocking heat from getting into your home and creating a fire risk. Make sure that there are no items, including furniture and decorations, blocking your heating vents at any point throughout the winter.

Clear Branches Away From the Outdoor Condenser Unit

It may not seem like a big deal for branches, even small ones, to get stuck in the outdoor condenser unit of your HVAC system. However, these branches can damage the interior components, causing the system to malfunction. Check that there are no branches near the condenser unit, and after a major storm in Gilbert, inspect the condenser unit to see that no branches fell on or into it.

It’s never too late to start improving your HVAC habits for the better by requesting a maintenance appointment today. It can significantly affect how much money you save on monthly utility bills, how cozy your home feels, and how much heating you conserve. Indoor air quality services are also available along with cooling and heating installation and servicing. When the hot weather approaches in Arizona, it’s the perfect time to schedule a spring seasonal HVAC tune-up appointment. Contact Hicken Air In Gilbert to ensure your system stays in top shape.