How to Prepare Your Charleston HVAC System For Winter
It’s that time of the year again! The days are getting shorter, the nights getting colder, and you can see your breath during some of your morning commutes. The winter months are upon us, which means it’s time to prepare your home for the colder weather.
While we may not have the harshest of winters here in the Lowcountry, at ClimateMakers, we work hard to ensure that your HVAC unit is running at its best all year long. That includes protecting your unit with regular AC maintenance, making emergency AC repairs, improving your indoor air quality, and prepping your heat pump for a Charleston chill!
The average HVAC system is designed to last 15-20 years, so it’s important to take care of it properly to avoid breakdowns and repair costs. If your home heating system is not properly tuned up before winter, your utility bills could skyrocket.
Scheduling a Fall HVAC tune-up will help you avoid future repairs and keep your energy bills low as we head into Winter. To have your HVAC's heat pump functioning correctly, here are a few tips from us to maximize efficiency, safety, and comfort:
Change Air Filters Regularly
The HVAC air filter is arguably the most important part of your heating and cooling system because it filters the air that you breathe. Neglecting your air filter can cause serious health problems by filling your home with particles, allergens, and bacteria.
Your HVAC air filter is a forgotten part whose importance doesn’t always get emphasized enough — but it’s crucial. The right HVAC filter will ensure that your indoor air is clean, healthy, and comfortable.
When it comes to your HVAC system, you don’t always know you need a new HVAC air filter until you start experiencing problems with your heating and cooling system. Once that happens, it can be difficult to pinpoint the culprit.
When an air filter is dirty, it can restrict airflow and cause your system to work harder to keep your home at the temperature you want.
Do you know what causes allergies? Dust, pet dander, pollen, and mold spores — all of which make their way into your air vents and accumulate inside dirty air filters. Some of these particles are so small that they are invisible to the naked eye. Air filters don't just improve your indoor air quality, they can also prevent colds, seasonal illnesses, and allergies by trapping most of these particles before they get to your nose or mouth.
If you're prone to allergies, ClimateMakers advises you to replace your air filter every month for peak filtering.
Test the Thermostat
There's no escaping the bitter cold this winter, even in The Lowcountry. But if your home's thermostat isn't working correctly, you could be paying more than you need to for heating. With the winter months ahead, you’ll need to be prepared for the colder weather. It’s important to test your thermostat and heating well before the temperatures drop.
The thermostat, which is the brain of the HVAC system, may just need to be programmed or changed out.
One way to test your furnace is to switch it from cooling to heating and set the thermostat a few degrees higher than the current temperature. If you hear the heat kick in, your furnace is probably working. If it doesn’t, you may need to get it repaired before it gets colder.
Schedule a maintenance check with a trained Charleston HVAC contractor to ensure your furnace, heat pump, and thermostat are fully functional and prepared to keep your family warm and comfortable this winter season.
Better Still: Update Your Thermostat To Digital
The problem with most thermostats is that they’re unreliable. Even if they aren’t damaged by power surges, they can stop working after just a few years. Digital thermostats, on the other hand, are built to last. They can keep your home at exactly the right temperature for as long as you need them to — and because they never wear out, you don’t have to worry about replacing them.
Digital thermostats are also easy to program. If you’re considering getting one, you’ll be happy to know that they’re much easier to set up than traditional models. You just enter your settings, then you’re good to go. It’s that simple.
Set it and Forget it: A digital thermostat has the ability to turn itself on and off to maintain a constant temperature. It can also turn off when you leave the house to eliminate any chances of utility waste. By using this device, you can save hundreds of dollars by not running your air conditioner or heater when you're out of the house, or by lowering or raising your heating or cooling bills by several degrees.
Turn On Your Heat Pump or Furnace 2-3 Times Before It Gets Colder
There are many things that can be done before the first cold day of the year to make sure your home is ready for winter. One of the most important steps is turning on your heat pump or furnace a few times before it gets colder outside. This will prime the system and make sure that the machine is working as it should. Waiting until it’s freezing to turn on your heat only to find out it’s not heating your home is unfortunately all too common.
Schedule a Heating Tune-Up
There are few things more uncomfortable than crawling out of a warm bed to turn your heating system on when the temperature drops below freezing outside. It’s also an expensive convenience when you factor in how much it costs to keep your home warm in the winter. One of the best ways to ensure that your system is functioning correctly and to avoid significant equipment failure is to schedule a heating tune-up.
Your heating system is an essential part of your home. That’s why it’s important to be sure it’s in top condition before the cold season hits. By scheduling an annual tune-up with our professionals, you can ensure that your system is operating at top efficiency. If nothing else, our technicians will provide you with peace of mind that your heating system is working properly when the temperatures start to drop.
By scheduling an HVAC tune-up with our professionals, you can ensure that your system is operating at top efficiency. If nothing else, our technicians will provide you with peace of mind that your heating system is working properly when the temperatures start to drop.
Upgrade to a New Heating System
When was the last time you replaced your HVAC system? If you can't remember, it's time. It's been a while and it's probably either older than you or pretty darn close! An HVAC system is a major investment, so you should plan to replace your system every 15 to 20 years. But if your system is more than 10 years old, you should start looking for a replacement.
Older systems can use twice as much energy as modern, high-efficiency systems. New units are smarter and more efficient than ever before, and getting a new system will be an easy way to save money on energy bills and conserve resources.
Not only will this save you a ton on repairs, but it'll save you money and time with a new HVAC system that has a warranty and is less likely to fail when you need it most.
Make your home a comfortable place to live by replacing your old HVAC system with a new high-efficiency model from ClimateMakers. Contact us today at 843-552-9024, or
Contact ClimateMakers for Winter HVAC Preparation
Contact ClimateMakers to schedule this year's winter HVAC maintenance before the cold weather hits. Every Fall, it’s important to schedule an HVAC tune-up to ensure your heating and air conditioning systems are in good working order before the cold weather arrives.
Whether your heating and cooling system is old or new, ClimateMakers can help you prepare for the winter season. Contact us today to schedule a heating tune-up. Our expert technicians can make sure your system is ready for the cold weather and help you save energy and money.
ClimateMakers has served the Charleston, SC, and Grand Strand areas for years. We provide home heating services ranging from HVAC maintenance, HVAC installation along with HVAC repair. Our main goal is to keep your family safe and comfortable all year long while delivering honest service with integrity. If you have any questions about your HVAC unit - including the heat pump - and prepping it for the winter, contact us here, or give us a call, 843-552-9024.