The holiday season is coming soon, which means you’ll probably be spending a lot more time indoors entertaining guests. It also means you’ll likely rely on your furnace to keep your home warm and comfortable. While this shouldn’t be a serious problem if you’ve kept up with your maintenance, it’s still tough to have an eco-friendly home when you have to keep your furnace on 24/7. Still, there are some things that you can do even when you have to contend with the harshest winter weather. Here are some tips from our team at Apollo Heating & Air Conditioning in Bellevue, NE to keep in mind.
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1. Change Your HVAC Filter
You should keep changing your HVAC filter regardless of the time of year, but it’s especially important during the holidays. Not only will you have your furnace on almost all the time, but the additional foot traffic from guests and time spent cooking holiday meals will affect your home’s air quality. Your filter will get dirtier much more quickly, which will force your HVAC system to work harder.
Since all of this is unavoidable if you’re going to be home for the holidays, the best course of action is to replace your HVAC filter regularly. Change it now if you haven’t already in the last month, and either clean or replace it monthly for the rest of the winter.
2. Schedule a Tune-Up
Your HVAC system requires regular maintenance to keep working efficiently. While this does include replacing or cleaning your HVAC filter, it also means scheduling a furnace tune-up before the holidays are in full swing. The best time to schedule a tune-up for your heating system is in the fall before the main heating season begins. You’ll be able to catch and fix minor problems before they get out of hand, and your system will work much more efficiently overall.
3. Seal Drafts
Even when you keep your doors and windows closed most of the time, you could still be losing heat from drafts and other gaps in your home. Take some time to go through your house and find drafts from doors and windows that don’t close completely. You can seal drafty windows with weather stripping, while some caulk will take care of any other gaps that you might find.
4. Check Your Insulation
As you go through your house to find drafts, check your insulation. Your insulation keeps warm air from escaping during the winter while keeping cold air out. It will last anywhere from 15 to 100 years depending on the type that you have, with spray foam lasting the longest. If you haven’t upgraded your insulation in a while and you’ve noticed that your home isn’t as warm as it should be, consider an upgrade before the holidays.
5. Clean Your House
Simply cleaning your house will help you get more out of your HVAC system. Cluttered spaces could block heating vents and make them less effective overall. In addition, too much dust on your furniture and floors will get into your ducts and force your HVAC system to work harder.
You should also take some time to rearrange your home so that none of your vents are blocked by furniture. Your home will be much more comfortable, and your HVAC system will be that much more efficient.
6. Adjust Your Thermostat
It may be tempting to crank your thermostat up when it gets really cold outside, but you don’t need to if you want to stay warm. The most efficient temperature setting during the winter is 68 degrees. You can lower that by a few degrees if you have a house full of guests or if you’re away from home. To ensure that your home will always be at an appropriate temperature, install a programmable or smart thermostat that can adjust the temperature based on your schedule.
Contact Us for Your HVAC Needs
Whether you want to make sure that your HVAC system is ready for the holidays or you’re in need of heating repairs, Apollo Heating & Air Conditioning is there for you. We are an HVAC company that has served Bellevue, NE and the surrounding areas since 1971. We provide a range of heating and cooling services such as air conditioning repair, installation, maintenance, duct cleaning, and indoor air quality solutions.
To schedule a service appointment for your home, contact Apollo Heating & Air Conditioning in Bellevue today.
