Preparing Your HVAC for Winter

In colder regions of the country, such as Philadelphia, preparing your home for winter is important to protect your house from damage and your finances from costly repairs. Arguably one of the most important systems to prepare for winter is your HVAC.

For instance, you may not think to ready your air conditioner for the winter, but protecting it from the harsh elements can benefit you when the summer rolls back around. Preparing your HVAC for winter can be done in these simple steps, along with the help of your local, Philadelphia ServiceWhale contractor.

Preparing Your Heater

In the winter, your heater is an important component in keeping you and your family comfortable during those frosty winter nights. A properly running heater can also protect your home from damage, such as freezing pipes.

Firstly, have your furnace checked for leaks by a ServiceWhale contractor to make sure that the system is not producing harmful gases. Because your heater is likely to be used a lot in the next upcoming months, checking for potential issues as such is vital to preventing damage in your home. Ruling out any complications can lessen the possibility of your heater quitting on you during the time when you’ll need it most.

Also, when preparing your HVAC for winter, making sure that there are no objects around your furnace can decrease the chance of a fire. If you have a gas furnace, have the tank filled up so that you don’t have to pay for inflated gas prices in the dead of winter.

Preparing the Ventilation

Filters, filters, filters — need we say more? You should have the filters in your HVAC system replaced at least every three months. To prepare your HVAC for winter, change your filters. Doing so can make sure that your system has proper ventilation and will work efficiently.

Filters usually go on sale at various department stores after the summertime, too. If you know what kind of filter you need, you could probably go ahead and stock-up, just in case you need to make a change during the winter.

Also, make sure that there are no objects blocking the air ducts or return vents of your HVAC, which can hinder your system’s venting abilities. Have your contractor make sure there are no leaks in your ducts, either. If there are, patching these gaps can enhance your system’s efficiency, keeping your home warmer and your bills lower.

Preparing Your AC

Depending on what type of AC you have, there could be different ways in which you prepare this system to survive the harsh winter temperatures. If you have an outdoor AC unit, you could have the system washed and cleaned out. After it completely dries, you can cover it with a piece of plywood to prevent ice and debris from finding their way inside the unit. However, your outdoor unit is capable of handling most winter weather.

If you can, remove window units entirely and prepare them for storage. This can ensure the most protection of the unit from the cold of the winter and improve the seals on your home’s windows. Alternatively, window units can be covered with plastic or vinyl. These waterproof covers will protect your AC unit against melting snow and ice.

Annual inspections of your HVAC systems are also great way to ensure that your home’s heating and air are working as they should. Visit our ServiceWhale website today and contact us for more information on finding the contractor that can help you in preparing your HVAC for winter.