5 HVAC New Year’s Resolutions

Everybody wants to save money on their heating and cooling bills, but sometimes it’s difficult to know exactly what to do, or if you do know, to remember to do it. Make these HVAC resolutions for 2018 to save money and energy while keeping your home comfortable.

Check the HVAC air filter once a month. Time can pass quickly, and before you know it, months can pass since last time you inspected the filter. Set up an alarm on your computer or smart-phone to remind you about the filter. A fresh furnace or A/C filter will allow smooth airflow through your central HVAC system, keeping the equipment clean and air circulating through your home without unnecessary restrictions. An effective filter also will help improve indoor air quality.

Make sure objects (such as rugs, curtains, toys, boxes, furniture) are not blocking heating and cooling registers and vents. This goes back to the point in the previous resolution about the need for unrestricted system airflow.

Don’t forget to switch the blade rotation setting on your ceiling fans when the seasons change. Counter-clockwise is the default setting for warm weather, ensuring that air is blowing down into rooms, cooling occupants with a wind-chill effect. The blades should turn clockwise during the heating season, redistributing warm air that otherwise will collect near the ceiling. The switch should be located on the fan housing.

Seal air leaks in your home’s outer envelope, both from the inside and the outside. Use caulk, spray foam or weatherstripping to plug leaks. They’re commonly found at spots where utility pipes, vents or wires enter the home; where the foundation meets walls; and at doors and windows.

Schedule professional maintenance for your heating and cooling systems once a year (meaning two annual visits). This will ensure optimum effectiveness and energy efficiency, as well as safety. The technician also will spot minor problems with your equipment before they develop into bigger and more expensive issues.

For more HVAC resolutions to save money and enhance comfort in your Middletown area home, please contact us at C.R. Wolfe Heating & Air Conditioning.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Middletown, New York about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Guide or call us at 845-367-4482. 

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