As another summertime comes to a close, it’s time to start thinking about the winter season ahead. As a homeowner, there are various maintenance tasks that you’ll want to accomplish before the cold weather hits.
Get Your Heating System Serviced
As the weather gets colder, you’re going to be relying on your heating system to keep your home in good condition and your family warm. Before the weather gets too cold, it’s a good idea to contact your local HVAC professional to service your heating system. Make sure that they change out your air filter so that your system is working optimally.
Inspect Doors and Windows
Some of the biggest problems that can drive up your heating bill in the wintertime are air leaks around your doors and windows. To help combat this problem, it’s a good idea to inspect all your doors and windows for any loose caulking or weatherstripping. If you notice any of these issues or feel air leaking into your home, go ahead and install weatherstripping or caulking to stop the air leak.
Clean Your Gutters
Before the cold weather hits, you should take the opportunity to grab your ladder. Go ahead and clean out your gutters as you don’t want any loose debris blocking the free flow of water through them. Make sure that they’re adequately secured and that your downspouts are directing the water away from your home.
Reverse Ceiling Fans
A great way to help your home feel warmer without turning up your thermostat is using a ceiling fan. In the summertime, you’ll have your ceiling fan pointed in a counter-clockwise direction. You’ll want to switch that as the winter approaches. All of your ceiling fans should be rotating in a clockwise direction so that the air is forced up towards your ceiling. This will cause the air to go from your ceiling towards your walls and down to the floor. This essentially recirculates the hot air that naturally rises back down to the floor so that it can keep you warm.
Inspect Your Insulation Level
Insulation can make a gigantic difference in your energy bills during the winter months. When you have adequate insulation for your home, more of your heat stays inside, which lowers your energy bill. Take this time to head up to your attic and look at the level of insulation that you have. If it’s not up to the R-value that is recommended in your area, it’s time to consider investing in some more insulation.
Check Smoke Alarms and Carbon Monoxide Detectors
You should have both smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors in your home. These are great early warning systems that can help to save your life. It’s a good idea to use the test button on each alarm and detector to ensure that they’re working properly. If any of them are low on battery power, go ahead and put in fresh batteries.
Inspect Your Roof
Now is a good time to grab your ladder and head up to the roof. Take note of any issues with your shingles, like missing shingles or ones that have curled on the bottom. These shingles should be replaced before they cause moisture problems for your home. Additionally, you want to take a look at the area surrounding your vent pipes and your chimneys. If there is any flashing that is missing or corroded, it’s best to have it replaced now.
Get Heating Fuel Delivered
It’s never a good idea to wait until you need to turn on your heating system to get your fuel delivered. Rather, it’s best to schedule a fuel delivery in the fall months before you’re ever going to need your heating system to turn on. This helps to ensure that you have fuel for both your heating service appointment and whenever the weather changes.
Drain Your Water Heater
Before the winter season hits, it’s a good idea to go ahead and drain your water tank. It’s necessary to do this twice a year to ensure that any sediment inside of your water heater gets flushed out and doesn’t get stuck. It’s important that you drain the entire water heater before allowing it to refill.
Quality Heating Services
Air Tech of Central Florida provides quality heating services to the Longwood, FL, area. We can also assist with all of your cooling, plumbing, ductless mini-split, and indoor air quality needs. Contact us today to receive the help that you need!
Author Bio:
Luigi Ferraro
Specializing in residential and commercial HVAC services, Air Tech offers a wide range of solutions to meet the heating and cooling needs of their customers. Their team of skilled technicians is trained to handle the installation, repair, and maintenance of HVAC systems with expertise and precision.
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