Winters around Illinois are a mixed bag, and you never know what you’ll get. When the hard winters hit, you want to know that your system is ready to handle the strain and keep your home warm and safe. Consider these tips for how to prepare your HVAC system so that it’s set to go whenever the winter weather arrives.

Keep on Top of Your Air Filter

An air filter is often one of the most neglected parts of an HVAC system, but neglecting yours will make it difficult to heat your home effectively. A clogged air filter restricts airflow through the system, causing longer heating cycles, uneven heating, and excessive wear on the system’s components. Changing your filter regularly ensures that it’s capturing airborne contaminants while promoting effective airflow.

For 1- and 2-inch-deep filters, the recommended routine is changing them every 30 to 90 days. Larger filters, usually 3 to 6 inches deep, may last from several months to up to a year, depending on the filter’s construction, your home’s air quality, and how you use your system.

Clean and Adjust Your Ceiling Fans

Your ceiling fans may not be part of your HVAC system, but they certainly play an integral role in helping make heating your home more efficient. We learn in high school that hot air is less dense than cold air, so it rises. What that means for HVAC is that some of the heat you generate rises to the ceiling where you won’t feel it as much as you’d like.

When run properly for the season, ceiling fans help push warm air back down where you’ll feel it. The result is that you don’t have to set your thermostat as high to experience the same comfort level. To achieve this, turn your ceiling fans off and clean them. Then, flip the switch on the side of the housing so that the blades rotate clockwise.

Vents: Get Them Open and Clear

Supply vents help deliver heated air throughout your home and circulate it because of the air pressure difference between the supply and return vents. Any vents that are closed or obstructed prevent the system from circulating the heated air. Check all the supply vents and make sure they are open, even in rooms you may not use frequently. Six inches is the recommended clearance for all supply vents, including both above and around the vent. Return vents may need additional clearance, depending on the size of the vent. Check with your maintenance technician for the proper clearance for your home’s system.

Change Your Thermostat Batteries

Thermostat batteries help protect your settings if there’s a disruption to the unit’s power supply. While these may last a long time, industry recommendations are to change them at least annually. Leaving batteries in place too long can lead to battery corrosion, ruining a perfectly good thermostat. To ensure they don’t lose their charge prematurely, only use alkaline batteries.

Change Carbon Monoxide Detector Batteries

Most Illinois homes have a gas furnace to provide substantial heat when the frigid temperatures arrive. All gas appliances, including furnaces, water heaters, and even stoves and ovens pose a risk for carbon monoxide leaks and exposure. Your home’s carbon monoxide detector plays a critical role in alerting you if there’s a leak that could be fatal to your family. Unless the unit has a sealed battery, you should plan to replace the batteries twice a year.

Check Your Thermostat’s Settings

You also need to prepare your thermostat’s settings for the colder weather. Start by changing the temperature setting to a cooler winter setting. Next, make sure you have programs set to reduce the temperature by 7 to 10 degrees while you’re away. According to the Department of Energy, this can reduce your annual heating costs by up to 10%. It can also reduce your equipment’s wear and extend your system’s service life.

Inspect and Seal Your Ducts

Leaky ducts allow heated air out and cool air to enter the system, reducing the system’s heating efficiency. Additionally, they allow contaminants into the system that can clog it up and restrict airflow. Plan to have your ducts professionally inspected every three to five years to look for leaks and to check their overall condition. If the technicians find leaks, have your ducts professionally sealed. Despite the name, duct tape is not a good solution for sealing ducts. Rather, professionals can use a mastic sealant, metal tape, or an aerosol sealant that can get through the entire system without tearing open walls.

Clear the Outdoor Heat Pump Unit

If your system includes a heat pump for mild weather, take some time to prepare the outdoor unit. Gently wash the unit’s exterior housing using a garden hose without a nozzle. This prevents pressure that could damage the fins. Clear any debris or obstructions away from the unit to ensure there is adequate airflow to allow heat transfer. This includes weeds, grass, leaves, tree branches, bushes, and landscaping decor and architecture.

Schedule Fall Furnace Maintenance

One of the best things you can do right now to prepare your HVAC system for cold weather is schedule fall HVAC maintenance. The goals of maintenance are to maintain your system’s heating efficiency, reduce wear, and improve your home’s comfort. A technician achieves these goals by cleaning the system, tightening electrical connections, lubricating unsealed motor bearings, and conducting extensive testing to find parts that are working less than optimally.

Schedule Repairs Now

A mechanical system like a furnace or a heat pump is composed of a host of parts that allow it to do its intended job. However, if one component isn’t working up to capacity, it will strain all the other components in the system. This added strain makes the system more susceptible to mid-season breakdowns — especially when sub-zero temperatures arrive — leaving you in the middle of the winter without heat. If your maintenance technician finds something less than optimal or if you notice something isn’t working properly, have the repair scheduled quickly to minimize the wear on your system.

Replace an Outdated System

Older heat pumps have an average service life of 10 to 15 years, and gas furnaces average 15 to 20 years when properly maintained. The risk of a costly mid-season breakdown happens when your system gets into this range or its service life is extended beyond it. Additionally, if you wait for your system to suffer a catastrophic failure, you’ll end up paying more and having fewer choices than if you plan for your replacement. If your system is within this age range, schedule a consultation with an experienced installation technician to find the best replacement system for your home.

For more than 45 years, Kulacz & Sons Heating & Cooling, Inc. has been the trusted name in HVAC services for homes and businesses around Bradley. Our team takes pride in providing air conditioning and heating maintenance, repair, and installation along with indoor air quality solutions and ductwork services. Call us today to schedule your fall furnace maintenance or repair visit. Ask us about our maintenance agreement!

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