After a long, hot summer it’s easy to forget about your heating system. As the winter months roll in, it’s important to make sure your heating system is ready to combat the cold. Follow our five tips to preparing your heating system for the winter and keep your family toasty all winter long.
5 Tips to Prepare Your Heating System for Winter
These 5 quick tips are easy to follow and can help prevent a break down in the middle of a cold winter night.
Change the filter
Start the winter with a fresh new filter. We recommend changing the filters every 30 days. Keeping clean filters in your system can save you from pricey repairs and also keeps the air in your house clean. A dirty air filter puts dust, dirt, allergens, and even mold spores in the air. Keep your heating system and family healthy by regularly changing the filter.
Turn it on before you need it
Test out your thermostat and your heating system before it gets too cold outside. Check that your thermostat is working and regulating the temperature correctly. Make sure the air flowing from your vents is heated air, and that the heat cuts off when the thermostat reaches the desired temperature. We recommend testing your system at least three times before winter kicks in.
We also like to encourage setting your thermostat to a cooler temperature through the winter months. For example, if you typically keep your house temperature set at 76 degrees, try to keep it at 72 degrees for the winter months. Your heating system won’t need to work as hard or come on as much at the lower temperature.
Check for leaks
Did your dad ever tell you he’s not heating the whole neighborhood, so close the door? We’re here to remind you not to heat your whole neighborhood through leaking ducts or door jambs. A leaking air duct can lose up to 20% of the heat from your system. Making sure your ducts, door jambs, and windows are sealed correctly can save you more than $120 annually. Find those leaks and make sure they are properly repaired.
Unblock those vents!
Open up your vents and move any furniture that might be blocking them to make sure your heat can flow freely.
Have your system inspected by the pros at J. Griffin Heating and Plumbing
Let us set your mind at ease before the cold weather gets here. We’ll take a look at your system and make sure everything is working the way it should be. J. Griffin Heating and Plumbing is a family business. We’ve been servicing, maintaining, and repairing heating systems in Eastern Massachusetts for thirty years.
Give us a call at (781) 520-1212 or check out our Facebook page to see all of the ways J.Griffin Heating and Plumbing can help you.
