Preparing Your Home For The Holidays (HVAC Edition)
The cold has started to hit us hard here in southeastern Pennsylvania, and this is the time of year when we start to get ready for the holidays. Between Thanksgiving, Christmas and the New Year, you want to make your home comfortable and conserve money on energy bills in the process. This means ensuring that your HVAC system is running efficiently and your home is energy efficient.
I’ve been working in homes around Havertown, Ardmore, Bryn Mawr, and the Main Line for 20 years. There are lots of different designs, and some very old homes as well, so it takes some attention to detail and care if you want to keep your space warm without spending money unnecessarily. In this article, I’ll go over some of the things you can do around your home to ensure it stays warm, and you aren’t costing yourself money.
If you want one of the experts here at John Cipollone Inc. to take a look at your HVAC system, give us a call at (610) 446-7877. Our experts would be happy to inspect your system, perform maintenance, or give you a free estimate for a new system. We’ve been working in the area since 1953, and have been keeping homes comfortable ever since!
Getting Your HVAC System Ready For The Holidays
Along with decorating and getting the kitchen ready to make some holiday meals, getting your HVAC system ready for the holidays is a good idea too. Here are a few steps you can take to ensure your home is comfortable this holiday season.
Change Your Air Filter
Your air filter helps keep the air in your home clean and healthy. It catches airborne particles and irritants that move through your HVAC system. We recommend changing the air filter once every 1-3 months, and right before the holidays is a perfect time to do it. If you have family coming over, you want to make sure the air is as fresh as possible. Houses with pets especially benefit from a fresh air filter, as it can help clean up some of the odors and pet dander.
Your air filter is something you can change on your own. To change your air filter:
- Turn off your HVAC system
- Remove the air filter cover
- Remove the air filter
- Insert the new air filter (Make sure the arrows are pointing in the right direction)
- Replace the cover
- Turn your HVAC system back on
If you aren’t sure about the location of your air filter, ask your HVAC technician during a routine maintenance visit or consult your manual. We recommend having a few filters on hand to make the swap easy, and save you a trip to the hardware store.
Schedule Regular Service
Your heating system should be serviced by a professional at least once a year. This ensures that it’s running safely and efficiently. This is the number one task we recommend when it comes to your HVAC system.
During routine maintenance, your system will be cleaned and inspected. We ensure that it’s operating safely as well. If you have a fuel-burning furnace, it will emit dangerous gases like carbon monoxide. If they aren’t being properly vented, it could be hazardous.
Having your HVAC system professionally serviced will also help keep your warranty intact. Lots of new HVAC systems come with a warranty, but it requires you to have the system taken care of by a professional once a year.
The other benefit of heating system that is maintained properly is the efficiency. During routine maintenance, a technician will clean the system and make sure it’s running properly. This improvement of efficiency means lower energy bills. One of the worst parts the cold weather is the heating bill going up, but if your system is using less energy, it means lower energy bills.
As you can see, there are many reasons why you should have your HVAC system serviced. If you live in Havertown, Ardmore, The Main Line, or any of the surrounding neighborhoods, John Cipollone Inc. can help you out. We are a trusted, family-owned and operated contractor who specializes in HVAC service. Give us a call at (610) 446-7877, or contact us online!
Make Sure Your Vents Are Clear
You may be breaking out decorations or moving furniture during the change of the seasons. Make sure you don’t block any vents. This can disrupt the comfort in that room, and also back up the HVAC system as well, causing heating problems around the rest of the house as well.
Just make sure that there is ample space around your vents, and they are able to distribute air freely!
Check Your Smoke And Carbon Monoxide Detectors
This is good to do at least once every 6 months, but before the holidays is a good time to do it. With all the cooking, lights, decorations, candles, and a heating system running… it’s good to be safe. There are far more fire hazards around the home during the holidays, and a functioning smoke detector could save your life. Give these systems a test and make sure the batteries are fresh!
Questions About Your Heating?
If you have any questions about your heating system, or ways to make your home more comfortable, give John Cipollone Inc. a call at (610) 446-7877, or contact us online. Our experts can help you out with any comfort concerns you may have, and get you set up with a service or free estimate!
