As seasons change, so do the temperatures in our homes. In the warmer months, we utilize air conditioning to keep our homes cool and comfortable. And in the wintertime, we use furnaces to heat our homes and keep us warm and cozy when the outside weather is cold. However, regardless of the season, you must take proper care of your air ducts and HVAC systems. Here are some winter maintenance tips for your air ducts.
Check Your Air Filters
Checking your air filters is the first helpful maintenance tip for your air ducts this season. Homeowners often make the mistake of not checking their air filters often enough, which you want to avoid. Therefore, you should check your filters at least once every 3 months. If a filter becomes clogged or dirty, it can cause your HVAC system to work harder, resulting in higher heating and cooling bills. As a rule of thumb, changing your home’s air filters every 6 to 12 months is best to ensure they’re working properly.
Get a Programmable Thermostat
Another thing you can do to help your HVAC system in the wintertime is to get a programmable thermostat. Heating bills can get high in the winter season, so you want to take the necessary steps to ensure you’re being energy efficient and saving money. Therefore, investing in a programmable thermostat is a good idea. It can help you save money because you can set your system to lower temperatures at night and higher temperatures during the daytime. A programmable system does all the work for you, so you don’t ever have to worry about forgetting to set the temperature to a lower setting.
Add Appropriate Insulation
Adding appropriate insulation is also a great tip for maintaining your air ducts in the winter months. It’s helpful to know the common problems with cold weather ventilation so that you can work to avoid them. One of these common issues is condensation and water accumulation in the wintertime. This buildup of water and condensation can cause damage over time. Therefore, you should add appropriate insulation to prevent this condensation from happening. Proper insulation will protect your air ducts and ensure they’re working as they should.
So now that the colder season is here, you should be sure to follow these air duct maintenance tips for wintertime. Taking proper care of your HVAC systems will ensure that they work well and last for a long time without sustaining damage.
