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If you have not already winterized your home for the season, it’s not too late. Yes, winter is already in full swing, but the coldest temperatures are still ahead of us. Before we experience a surprise cold snap, there are some steps that you can take to prepare your home and reduce the chances of HVAC problems.
You can keep reading to learn our top tips for making sure your home is ready for the winter season. Then give our team a call when you want to schedule any type of professional heating service, from maintenance to repairs and even new heater installation in Wilmington, NC.
What is heat pump maintenance and what does it include?
Heat pump maintenance is the routine inspection and servicing of your system to keep it running efficiently and prevent breakdowns. Proper maintenance typically includes:
- Replacing or cleaning air filters every 1 to 3 months
- Clearing debris around the outdoor unit for proper airflow
- Cleaning indoor and outdoor coils
- Checking thermostat settings and system controls
- Inspecting refrigerant levels and electrical components
- Scheduling professional service at least once per year
Regular maintenance improves efficiency, lowers energy costs, and extends the life of your heat pump.
Seal Cracks and Gaps to Prevent Heat Loss
Your first step is to make your home as airtight as possible. Any small gaps leading outside allow heated air to escape your home while colder temperatures get inside. The most common places for these gaps are windows and doors. This is especially true if you have an older home, which may benefit from targeted heating improvements in Wilmington to better retain indoor warmth.
The good news is, there is weather stripping you can buy to put around your doors to create a tighter seal around the edges and along the floor. When it comes to windows, you may need to invest in professional repair services to address any issues. Gaps around windows can either mean that your windows are not secure or that they won’t close all the way – and that’s not a problem you want to try and DIY or you could make the problem worse.
Add Insulation to Improve Winter Energy Efficiency
It’s also a good idea to invest in more insulation if it has been a while since either your home was first built or since new insulation has been added. Experts estimate that insulation will last for around 10 to 15 years before it needs to be replaced, and improving insulation is one of the key tips to help boost heating efficiency during the colder months.
Extreme weather, pests, and other factors can cause the fibers in insulation to break down faster. When our team visits your home for professional maintenance, we can also assess your insulation and recommend insulation services if needed. This is a great way to keep heat down in your home instead of allowing it to rise up and escape through the roof.
Check Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Winterizing your home is not just about comfort. You also want to take safety into consideration. It’s a good idea to test your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors once each year to make sure they are operational and have a strong battery charge. It’s important for detectors to be in good working order so they will alarm at the first sign of smoke in the case of a fire or a carbon monoxide leak if you have gas lines.
Schedule Professional HVAC Maintenance for Winter
We already mentioned professional maintenance briefly above. This is one of the best ways to help winterize your home. When our team performs maintenance on your HVAC system, we help to make sure it is ready to face the cold temperatures of the winter season, especially if you haven’t scheduled service since before the heating season began.
At Gideon Heating & Air Conditioning, we like to say that our work isn’t just good—it’s Gideon Guaranteed! Contact us today to schedule HVAC services.