Maintaining a warm, toasty environment in your Springfield, MO home is the first step in creating truly unforgettable experiences for your holiday guests. Whether you’re hosting family for several days or inviting everyone over for a celebratory feast, you want balanced humidity, steady heat, and optimal indoor air quality (IAQ). Fortunately, with the five tips that follow, you can get all these things without driving up your energy bill.
1. Schedule Annual Heater Maintenance
All heaters require pre-season tune-ups. Scheduling annual heater maintenance before winter arrives will keep your system compliant with the manufacturer’s warranty. It will also improve your HVAC for efficiency and minimize the likelihood of costly mid-season repairs.
During annual heater tune-up services, our technicians:
- Test and calibrate thermostats
- Measure airflow
- Inspect and clean blower motors and blower fans
- Check all failsafe measures
- Replace missing and worn parts
Among other things, we also check for and tighten loose connections, lubricate all moving parts, and test all carbon monoxide (CO) alarms.
With a clean and properly tuned heater, you can look forward to lower heating costs and fewer allergens and other contaminants floating in your air. HVAC tune-up service can also eliminate internal buildups of dust and other debris to prevent unpleasant and pervasive odors during furnace or heat pump operation.
2. Stay on Top of HVAC Air Filter Changes
According to most HVAC equipment manufacturers, homeowners should inspect their HVAC air filters every month and change them every 30 to 90 days. Keeping a clean filter will optimize airflow and protect your IAQ. It will also help you avoid problems like overheating and short cycling.
3. Keep Your HVAC Air Vents Open and Clean
Make sure to check the air vents throughout your home. They should all be open and clean. Heavy buildups of lint-like debris just behind your air vent covers will compromise airflow and could lead to issues like excess humidity and overheating.
Building residents might close HVAC air vents to customize temperatures in their immediate areas. Vent closures create stressful and potentially unsafe operating conditions for heaters by dramatically increasing static pressure inside HVAC ducting. Opening closed vents will limit the work that your heater must do to move air, promote even and consistent air delivery, and prevent stress-related breakdowns.
If your HVAC air vents are dirty, use a damp cloth to wipe their covers clean. You can also unscrew your air vent covers and vacuum just behind them using the appropriate vacuum cleaner hose attachment.
4. Install a Smart Thermostat
Prevent unwanted temperature adjustments and maintain a consistently comfortable living space by having a smart thermostat installed. According to ENERGY STAR, homeowners can cut their annual heating and cooling-related energy use by up to 8% with this HVAC improvement alone.
With a smart thermostat, you can establish multiple preset temperature changes to match your schedule, suit the needs of your guests, and reduce your energy use. These devices also come with branded mobile apps for remote temperature monitoring and control.
5. Ask About Secondary HVAC Services and Integrated IAQ Accessories
According to the National Association of Air Duct Cleaners (NADCA), you can boost your indoor air quality and support efficient HVAC operation by having your air ducts professionally cleaned every three to five years. These services eliminate all trapped, in-duct debris, optimize airflow, and neutralize HVAC-related odors.
Your pre-season furnace tune-up is also a great time to ask about integrated humidity control or additional IAQ support. If you have exceedingly dry indoor air during the winter months or condensation-covered windows, you may need a whole-house dehumidifier or whole-house dehumidification equipment. Integrated IAQ accessories like air purifiers, air scrubbers, sanitizing UV lights, and media filters can eliminate gaseous chemical contaminants and slow the spread of illness by neutralizing bacteria, viruses, and other germs.
Residents of Springfield can count on us for consistently excellent workmanship and superior customer support. We provide outstanding heating services as well as, cooling, and indoor air quality work. We also offer smart thermostats, dehumidifiers for indoor pools and spas, and carbon monoxide detectors. For help getting your HVAC system ready for holiday entertaining, get in touch with Queen City Heating & Cooling now.
