The holiday season is upon us and so is the cold weather. By now you’ve probably fired up your heating systems and are getting ready to host your holiday parties. But before you entertain guests, here are a few holiday heating tips to help ensure you and yours don’t end up in the cold.
Get Your HVAC Winter Maintenance
Schedule a routine maintenance check for your HVAC system each fall to check for loose belts in the blower, measure the pressure of the gas, and check for cracks in the heat exchanger. Loose belts are at risk of breaking, leaving you without heat when you need it. Cracks in the heat exchanger can cause problems with the pilot light, soot buildup from improper combustion, dangerous carbon monoxide, and even lead to a host of fire concerns.
Inspect Your Ducts
Have a licensed professional inspect and clean your ducts to make sure you have a clean, energy-efficient holiday season. If you have leaks in your ducts, it will raise your heating bill as your heating system pushes out more heat to make up for what’s lost in the leaks. If you are considering new heating options for your home, consider a ductless heat pump. By eliminating ducts you also eliminate the chance of heat escaping through cracks or improperly sealed ducts.
Prevent Heating System Fires
The overwhelming majority of home heating system fires occur in the months of December, January, and February. Clogged or dirty equipment are the most common cause of home heating fires. Have your heating system checked by a professional technician every year before you turn the system to heat, If you let it slip, make sure to get a check-up before holiday get-togethers.
Make sure your filters and vents are clean and free of debris. Dust is extremely flammable and in large quantities can cause fires to spread. Dust can also accumulate above the furnace and cause a fire if the debris falls down into the heat exchanger.
Check Your Fire and Carbon Monoxide Detectors
A natural byproduct of gas furnaces is nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and water vapor. An odorless, colorless gas that is usually safely combusted and vented away from the home. When a heating system’s venting is dirty or clogged, carbon monoxide can build up and leak into the home. With potentially deadly effects.
If you don’t have a carbon monoxide detector in your home, we highly recommend you purchase enough to place one near or in each separate sleeping area. Additionally, we recommend you place an additional carbon monoxide alarm at least 15-20 feet away from the furnace or any fuel burning heating systems.
And of course, check all fire and carbon monoxide detectors annual.
Make Use of Your Programmable Thermostat
Programmable thermostats are great for the holidays because you can set them and forget them. You can set preferable temperatures for up to four times a day, making sweltering dinnertimes and freezing breakfasts non-existent.
Set the thermostat for a slightly cooler temperature the day everyone is scheduled to come over. With that many warm bodies and the oven going, it can get hot inside pretty quick.
Schedule Your Winter Checkup Today!
Bolton Construction & Service of WNC, Inc. can help you take care of your heating system. We specialize in the installation, repair, and maintenance of all types of heating systems. Call 828-253-3621 to schedule your check up.