Winterizing your home’s heating system is key to saving money on energy expenses and preventing unnecessary repairs. Plus, it ensures your heating system is ready to keep you warm and comfortable. Here are 12 things you can do to get your home’s heating system ready for winter.
1. Inspect, Clean or Replace the Air Filter
You can usually find the filter on a forced-air furnace near the blower or return air duct. Gas furnaces have air filters on the intake side of the blower motor. Over time, filters will clog with dust, dirt and other debris. This restricts airflow and places additional pressure on HVAC systems, which raises energy consumption and shortens the life of your unit. You can avoid these issues by cleaning or replacing the air filter once every 30 to 90 days during the winter. Filters are available in both disposable and washable/reusable types. Keeping the air filter clean is key to improving your home’s indoor air quality as well.
2. Check and Seal Leaky Ductwork
Ductwork that allows air to escape via holes or cracks makes heating your home more difficult. It also increases energy costs and creates inconsistencies in the temperature throughout your house. The best way to address this is to check ductwork for any signs of leaks or weak connections. This is particularly important in unconditioned areas like basements and attics. One of our experts can use duct mastic tape or metal foil tape to cover up all the cracks and holes. If you insulate and seal your ductwork properly, you can increase your system’s efficiency by as much as 20%.
3. Bleed Radiators to Remove Trapped Air
Heating systems that use hot water or steam, such as boilers, sometimes use radiators to distribute hot water or steam throughout the house. As time goes on, the radiators can become less efficient and provide inconsistent warmth due to trapped air. Bleeding the radiators will eliminate trapped air. A professional can do this by disabling the system, opening the bleed valve using a radiator key or flathead screwdriver and letting the trapped air escape. Then, if necessary, they will seal the valve and repressurize the system.
4. Insulate Any Exposed Pipes
Exposed pipes in crawl spaces, basements and attic areas are especially prone to freezing. Frozen pipes can be major sources of water damage and costly repairs. If you insulate these pipes using heat tape or foam pipe insulation, there’s a much smaller chance they will freeze. Insulating your home’s hot water pipes also helps keep the water’s temperature constant as it flows through the system. This improves your on-demand access to hot water at all times.
5. Upgrade Your Thermostat
One of the goals of winterizing your heating system is making it as efficient as possible. To achieve maximum energy savings, it is essential to pair the heater with a programmable or smart thermostat. Programmable thermostats improve energy efficiency by allowing you to preset heating schedules and temperature adjustments. This can greatly reduce energy waste when you’re away from home or sleeping. Smart thermostats take energy savings to the next level thanks to features like algorithm-based temperature optimization. Plus, if you have a smart thermostat, you can usually operate it from anywhere using an app on your smartphone.
6. Check and Clean the Chimney
If your heating system uses a chimney, you’ll need to clean it regularly, as well as the flue. Soot, creosote and other debris can build up in the chimney, reducing airflow and wasting energy. Debris blocking the chimney can also lead to hazards such as carbon monoxide poisoning and fires. Cleaning a chimney can be dangerous, so it’s best to let a professional do it for you. An expert will also check the chimney cap to ensure it can prevent animals, rain and other debris from entering.
7. Replace Batteries in Carbon Monoxide and Smoke Detectors
If your house uses gas, oil or wood heating, winterization can prevent CO leaks. The best way to accomplish this is to install carbon monoxide detectors throughout the home. You should test the detectors once a month to ensure the batteries aren’t dead. You should check the batteries in all your smoke detectors as well.
8. Test System Pressure
In homes with a boiler heating system, you’ll need to check the setup’s pressure regularly. When the pressure is too high, it can damage your system’s components. When it’s too low, it might mean there’s a problem with your expansion tank or a leak. You can see the current pressure level on most boilers’ pressure gauges. Always refer to your system’s handbook for precise recommendations. The pressure should be between 1 and 1.5 bars for best performance. You may have to add more water to the system if the pressure isn’t high enough. Bleeding the radiators or adjusting the pressure release valve might be necessary if it’s too high.
9. Add Weatherstripping to Doors and Windows
Poorly insulated doors and windows let chilly air in and warm air out, drastically lowering your home’s energy efficiency. Installing weatherstripping around the perimeter of your windows and doors will solve this problem. Many kinds of weatherstripping materials are available, including rubber gaskets, felt and foam tape.
10. Install a Draft Guard on the Chimney
Chimneys can turn into a major source of heat loss, especially when you don’t use them very much. To keep chilly air from getting inside through the chimney, it’s pertinent to use a draft guard or a chimney balloon. These items prevent warm air from escaping your house by obstructing the chimney’s passage. Installing and removing draft guards is a breeze, making them a practical wintertime energy-saving option.
11. Test and Improve Airflow
Closed or blocked air vents can lead to hot and cold spots throughout your home. This can result in extra strain on the heater, causing unnecessary wear and tear. Checking the vents once a week to ensure they are open will facilitate optimal airflow throughout the house. You’ll also need to make sure they are clear of furniture, drapes and other items. If you have ceiling fans, you can set them to rotate clockwise to further improve airflow and help circulate warm air during the winter.
12. Check Insulation in Attics and Walls
Attics, crawl spaces and basements need adequate insulation to keep heat in during the winter and out during the summer. If you want expert advice on how to upgrade your home’s insulation, you should think about hiring an inspector. You might need to add more insulation to your ceilings if the home loses heat quickly. Adding more insulation to walls and ceilings is usually necessary for older homes and those located in colder climates.
Evergreen Heating & Air LLC is here to help winterize your heating system. We also work on air conditioners, mini-split systems, air purifiers, dryer vents and more. We even offer a Comfort Care Club, which helps save money on HVAC maintenance.
Call us now to schedule heating maintenance for your home in Mooresville, NC.
