The holidays are a time during which many homes will see more traffic than during the rest of the year. Believe it or not, the increased number of visitors to your home likely will mean changes in your energy usage and your energy bills. After all, more people means more hot water used, more heating needed, and more times the front door is opened, letting that cold air in and warm air out.
Save Money with These Top Holiday Tips
Combat the increase in energy usage and potential energy bills by following seven helpful tips for your HVAC system this season:
1. Test Your Carbon Monoxide Detector
The importance of this one cannot be overstated. Although detectors have lifespans of about a decade, malfunctions do happen. A carbon monoxide detector could be completely dead and you’d never realize it until it was checked. Batteries should be tested every three to six months, and you should replace those batteries every year or two. Even if your detectors are hard-wired to your home, they use batteries, so check them.
2. Change the Furnace Air Filter
You’re going to want to change your air filter more often during the holiday season if you are planning on having many people in and out of the house. While normally, a filter should be changed about every 60-90 days, you may want to change yours once per month during the season.
3. Clean Vent Covers
Use your vacuum brush attachment or wipe them with a wet microfiber cleaning cloth to clean those vent covers. Use your vacuum to clean debris from around your vent openings, too. Check to make sure that vents are not blocked by anything.
4. Check Your Thermostat
It’s always recommended that you verify that your furnace and everything is working properly before the cold weather arrives. That way, if there is anything that needs expert HVAC attention, you can have A-1 Guaranteed Heating & Air, Inc. take care of it without you having to freeze.
5. Make it a Habit to Adjust the Temp
If you’re going to use the oven for several hours to bake pies or cook your holiday ham or turkey, make sure that you turn down your thermostat ahead of time to compensate for the additional heat that will be in your home.
6. Use Ceiling Fans
Hot air rises, but you can use ceiling fans to your advantage. By turning them on low speed during the winter while they rotate clockwise, you can force warm air back down lower to people’s level instead of having it stuck hovering above everyone up near the ceiling. Not only will this keep people more consistently comfortable but can also save you money on your heating bills.
7. Check for Air Leaks
Using a candle, you can check your home for air leaks, which can waste heated air, making your home uncomfortable, unpredictable, and more expensive to heat than it should be! Your heating system will use more energy and run more often, potentially shortening its lifespan. Walk through your house and (carefully) use the candle flame to see where drafts may be sneaking in through doors and windows.
Now’s the Time to Schedule an HVAC Checkup
Don’t wait until your furnace breaks down during the holidays to reach out to our team here at A-1 Guaranteed Heating & Air, Inc.! The best time to call us is right now to schedule a preventative maintenance check-up for your furnace. We’ll make sure that there are no little problems hiding that can turn into a disaster later. We’ll also confirm that it’s in premium working order, too.
Contact us here at A-1 Guaranteed for all of your HVAC needs, solar needs, and more. We proudly serve Vacaville, Napa, Fairfield, Solano, Napa, Contra Costa, and the entire Bay Area.
