Heater New Year’s Resolution Checklist

Each year, you may tell yourself that you’re going to make your heating system work more efficiently. However, how many years have you actually followed through with that resolution? If you’re like most homeowners, you haven’t. Make this year different by setting the manageable resolutions below.

Join an Annual Maintenance Plan

One of the most common issues that homeowners have in regards to their heating system is remembering to get it serviced by a professional each year. This is necessary to keep the internal components of your system clean and working optimally. And, most people don’t realize that their system’s warranty has a clause that requires the system to get annual maintenance by a professional. Do yourself a favor and join an annual maintenance plan so that your HVAC professional can remind you that it’s time for service.

Check Your Filters More Often

It can be easy to realize that you haven’t checked your air filter in months. While it may seem like a minimal task to change your air filter, it’s actually super critical to your heater’s ability to perform at its best. If your filter isn’t changed when it gets overly dirty, your heater is going to have to work harder to push air through that dirty filter. Make it a resolution to check your air filter at least once a month and always have a fresh filter on hand.

Check Your Vents Often

If you have a forced-air heating system, then warm air is delivered to the rooms of your home via supply vents. Each room will have at least one supply vent and one return vent. You should check these vents often to ensure that they’re free from debris and have adequate airflow. Any obstructions like furniture or plants should be removed from in front of these vents as they can restrict their airflow. When airflow is restricted, your heater has to burn more energy to force heat into the rooms of your home.

Close Off Drafts

When the weather is cold outside, it’s easy to feel a draft when it sneaks in. Most of the time, these air drafts will come in via your windows or underneath your doors. Fortunately, you can block that cold air from seeping into your home by using weatherstripping, door sweeps, and other products. Finally, take the time to assess the weak areas of your home and patch up those drafts so that your heating system doesn’t have to work so hard to keep your home warm.

Invest in More Insulation

From time to time, you may think about checking the insulation value in your home to determine if it’s adequate or not. However, if you’re like most homeowners, you forget to do so. Now is the time to crawl up into your attic and see what insulation value you have. If your value is below what the recommended R-value is for your region of the country, then upgrade it. Adding more insulation helps to create a bigger barrier for the cold to stay out.

Get a Smart Thermostat

One of the easiest ways to help reduce your energy and fuel bills during the winter is to install a smart thermostat. This is a special thermostat that allows you to program in specific temperatures for every day and time throughout the week. The added bonus is that it will monitor your usage and make eco-friendly suggestions to reduce your energy consumption. Also, you can easily change your thermostat settings from the convenience of your smartphone, no matter where you’re physically at.

Get Problems Assessed When They Develop

If you notice that your heating system is making an odd noise or has an unusual smell, make it your resolution to get it checked out quickly. Don’t fall into the habit of seeing if it will work itself out. Noises and smells are your heating system’s way of telling you that something is wrong. The longer you let the problem go, the more likely it will be to create more damage to your system. More damage almost always translates into a higher repair bill.

Excellent Heating Services

Puyallup Heating & Air Conditioning offers excellent heating and cooling services for the residents of Puyallup, WA. We also provide water heater and air purifier services. Contact us today, and we’ll send out one of our highly experienced technicians to service your home.