Weather predictions for the Midwest are for a mild early winter, then possibly building up to harsher conditions as the season progresses. If we do enjoy milder weather over the next few months, it’s a good time to take stock of early winter problems and prepare for more challenging weather in January and February.
Check your pipes.
While pipes are usually well protected in our area because of our cold winters, we can always get an unpleasant surprise. Protect your home against burst pipes and flooding by wrapping pipes located in cabinets along exterior walls with insulation. Leave cabinet doors open during freezing weather; supplement heating with a space heater in the room where the pipes are located.
Uneven airflow.
Check vents and registers. Make sure that there are no obstructions blocking airflow. Open dampers. Closed dampers and obstructed airflow will make the HVAC system perform inefficiently.
Change your filter.
This is especially important when the heating system is running continuously throughout the winter. A dirty air filter will block airflow, causing the system to work harder. This translates to uneven heating and higher utility bills.
Malfunctioning thermostat.
Whether you have an analog, programmable, digital or Wi-fi thermostat, it should be check out every year to make sure it is functioning properly, and that it is sending the right commands to your system to reach the temperature you desire.
Carbon monoxide leaks.
Any combustion-powered equipment in your home, be it your gas-powered water heater or the furnace, can leak this deadly gas. CO leaks from the HVAC system usually originate in the heat exchanger from minute cracks. Have your furnace inspected early in the winter so that you can be sure it is functioning correctly by the time serious winter weather arrives.
Leaking ductwork.
Ask your HVAC tech to check your ductwork for any holes, cracks or disconnected segments so that the ducts aren’t leaking air into unconditioned spaces.
Contact Mowery Heating, Cooling and Plumbing to help correct early winter problems with your HVAC system.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Brownsburg, Indiana and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).
