Cold Snap Heating System Tips
Tips To Help Your Heating System
Keep Up When A Cold Snap Hits
Tennessee doesn't typically experience super cold winters. However, every so often, Mother Nature throws us a curve ball, dropping Ooltewah TN into the frigid zone. Your furnace or heat pump will be working overtime to keep your home comfortable. Here's a list of things you can do to help keep your heating system operating at peak performance, reduce the wear and tear on your system, help keep utility costs in check, and keep your home comfortable.
1. Change or Clean Your Air Filter Regularly:
One of the top causes of heat pump or heating system malfunction is a dirty filter. When it’s frigid outside, your heating system needs all the help it can get, and a clean air filter will help prevent your system from working harder than it needs to.
2. Keep Air Vents Clear and Unobstructed:
Whether you have a heat pump or a furnace, your system needs proper airflow to work efficiently. Make sure all indoor registers are open. Closing registers, even in unused rooms, can lead to pressure problems that will make your system work harder. You can adjust them to reduce airflow - just don't shut them off.
Higher efficiency gas furnaces also have a vent outside. Typically, these vents will be located near ground level and can become obstructed by ice, snow, foliage, or even lawn furniture. Make sure the area around the vents is unobstructed so your heating system can vent properly.
3. Test Your Carbon Monoxide Detectors:
Spending more time inside and the higher demand on your heating system can cause additional strain on systems. As a safety measure, test carbon monoxide detectors to ensure they operate correctly.
4. Don't Skip Heating System Maintenance (Tune-ups):
Annual maintenance will help keep your furnace and/or heat pump operating at peak efficiency. During an HVAC tune-up, our highly skilled and professionally trained technicians will give your system a thorough cleaning and inspection to help increase efficiency (and your comfort), decrease energy use, reduce breakdowns, and help promote longer system life. If you have a gas furnace, we will also do a thorough safety inspection and carbon monoxide test to help keep your family safe. After we complete your Heat Pump or furnace tune-up, we'll cover your system with our No-Hassle Guarantee!
If You Have A Heat Pump
5. Don't be Alarmed if Your System Acts Differently:
You may notice steam coming from your system or it's a bit noisier than normal. A heat pump goes into defrost mode when the temperatures drop. Since it's usually colder during the night, most of the time, you would be unaware that this is happening. When it's super cold, this may happen a few times a day, and you can expect each cycle lasts about 10-15 minutes.
6. Know When to Switch Your Heat Pump to "Emergency Heat":
Only switch your heat pump to emergency heat mode if it stops working. "Emergency Heat" mode will lock the heat pump and switch your heating source to the auxiliary heat strips, which will use more energy to heat your home. If you do find yourself in a 'cold house' and your heat pump is not functioning, throw on some additional sweaters so you can lower your thermostat setting. Then give us a call, or click here to schedule a technician to come out to address the problem.