
There’s no denying that winters in Middletown, NY can get quite cold. From time to time, your heating system may struggle to keep your home warm. Fortunately, there are some helpful tips that you can implement to make your HVAC system more efficient during the winter.
Let the Natural Sunlight In
One of the best ways to enhance the operating efficiency of your heating system in winter is to use natural sunlight to your advantage. Sunlight can increase a room’s temperature by 10 degrees or more. That’s a lot of natural heat that your heating system won’t have to produce. Be sure to open up blinds and curtains during the daytime hours.
Get Professional Maintenance Service
Professional tune-ups are a must for your furnace. Scheduling maintenance service in the fall to detect any potential problems with your heating system. This way, they can be easily repaired to ensure that your system is operating as efficiently as possible. This is also important for maintaining the warranty coverage on your HVAC system.
Keep Up With Air Filter Changes
The air filter inside your heating system is great for trapping unwanted debris before it enters the internal components of your heating system. Unfortunately, when your air filter reaches the end of its lifespan, it will be so full of debris that it will drastically reduce the efficiency of your heating system. Checking your filter once a month and replacing it when necessary will ensure that your system is always operating at its peak efficiency level.
Insulate
Insulating is a great way to prevent cold outside air from penetrating your home. The higher the R-value of the insulation, the better it will be at resisting temperature change. If your home lacks insulation or doesn’t have insulation that matches the R-value recommendation for your region, it’s time to upgrade. Be sure that your insulation exceeds or at least meets the minimum building code for your area. For any areas where you can’t fit insulation, use spray foam insulation to fill in the gaps.
Eliminate Air Leaks
As your home shifts in the ground, it can cause door and window frames to shift as well. This can allow air leaks to develop that can let cold outside air seep into your home. The more air leaks that develop, the harder your heating system has to work to combat them. The best thing to do is seal up those air leaks with caulking, weather stripping, or spray foam.
Get Duct Sealing Service
As your ducting naturally expands and contracts with temperature changes, it can develop leaks at its joints. As these gaps grow, they can allow the hot air from your heating system to escape before it makes it to the many rooms in your home. Investing in duct sealing services every three to five years will eliminate those leaks and allow more of your hot air to make it to the rooms in your home.
Invest in a Smart Thermostat
Wintertime heating bills can be costly, to say the least. However, a smart thermostat can help to drastically reduce them. This type of thermostat will allow you to program in different temperature settings. This way, you can turn down the thermostat at times that you’re not home, so you don’t waste excess energy. Newer smart thermostats with learning technology can monitor your system usage and make suggestions on how to further reduce your heating bills.
Use Ceiling Fans
Using ceiling fans can be a great way to recirculate hot air stuck at the top of your room back down to the floor. By circulating this hot air, you can reduce the need for your heating system to run. You may be able to reduce the temperature setting on your thermostat and still be just as comfortable in your home.
Consider an Upgrade
If your existing heating system is over 10 years old, it may be time to upgrade. Newer heating systems come with a much higher operating efficiency than older models. Plus, you have the option to purchase a high-efficiency system that can further enhance your energy savings throughout the cold winter months.
Expert HVAC Maintenance Service
WK Mechanical, Inc. offers expert HVAC maintenance service to Middletown and the rest of New York’s Hudson Valley. We can also help with all your air conditioning, heating, in-home comfort, commercial, heat pump, ductless mini-split, generator, water quality, and indoor air quality needs.
Call WK Mechanical, Inc. today to book a service consultation with one of our HVAC technicians.
