Think about the last time you had to repair a car at an inconvenient time. You might have been driving when a maintenance light turned on, or you may have heard an odd sound right before a big trip. Afterward, you may have realized that preventative maintenance could have saved you the trouble.
It’s important to care for all of the systems you use the most. Keeping your heating system in good shape can help you to stay safe and comfortable, and it can prevent your heater from breaking down when you need it most. Here’s how you can do your part.
Schedule Regular Maintenance
The most important step you can take for your heater is to schedule routine maintenance. First, this includes an inspection that can help to protect you from potential fire risks or carbon monoxide leaks. It also keeps your heater from needing repair when you need heat the most.
Your technician will let you know if anything is in need of repair within your system. That way, you can schedule service now, before you have to worry about any emergency situations. Early repair usually saves you money and some wear and tear, too. In addition, a standard tune-up of your system during professional maintenance may help the parts run more smoothly and efficiently, preventing repair.
Change the Air Filter
While it seems like a small problem, a dirty air filter can become a big issue if you let it go for long enough. Dirty air filters actually block air from flowing throughout your air ducts. That means you won’t feel comfortable (and you may call in a technician for repairs even though a simple air filter change would suffice).
However, the problem can get much worse. When air cannot flow through your ducts, your heater has to work twice as hard to attempt to heat your home. Rather than running in cycles, it may run nonstop, causing a lot of damage to internal components. That’s why you should change the filter every 3 months!
Use the Thermostat Wisely
Lots of people wear out their heating system much sooner than is necessary simply because they don’t have a good grasp on how the thermostat works. For instance…
- You shouldn’t turn the thermostat up as high as it goes immediately when you arrive home. This will not heat the home any faster, as the fan only moves at one speed, and it will only raise your bills and wear out the system.
- The “fan on” mode can wear out the blower motor. Keep the fan on auto so it only runs when the furnace is on.
- Get to know your programming settings. That way, you don’t have to worry about forgetting to readjust temperature settings when you leave the house.
Find an Efficient Temperature
As you learn more about how your programmable thermostat works, it’s important to choose an efficient temperature to run it at. Many people set their thermostats much higher than they need, and then forget about it. You may be perfectly comfortable keeping the thermostat at 70° even though you’ve been setting it to 75° all along. Keep the thermostat at the coolest temperature you can be comfortable with to reduce your usage and help keep away heating repairs for longer.
Schedule your heating repair in Colorado Springs with the experts at Robbins Heating & Air Conditioning.
