HVAC Checklist For The Holiday Season

Keep Your Friends & Family Cozy During Upcoming Holiday Parties!

The holiday season is officially upon us. During this time of year, homeowners in Staunton, Stuarts Draft, Harrisonburg, and surrounding areas are beginning to plan their big holiday parties and preparing to be re-united with loved ones. Though the main to-do list often involves planning food and games for your guests, there is a key element that can make or break your next gathering – your HVAC system!

No one enjoys going to a holiday party in a home that is freezing cold, blazing hot, or leaves them with “sick building syndrome” from poor indoor air quality. In this post, we are going to provide you with a quick and easy checklist to ensure that your heating & air conditioning system is ready to perform when your guests arrive!

Change Your Air Filter

Though we always recommend that you change your air filter every 30-60 days, some homeowners tend to forget this step. Changing your air filter can greatly increase the comfort in your home and improve your overall indoor air quality. Additionally, it can extend the lifespan of your system!

A dirty air filter can:

• Cause your heating system to quit working
• Create inconsistent heat throughout the house
• Lower your indoor air quality
• Lead to costly furnace or heater repair
• and more!

To avoid this from happening, be sure to go check your air filter prior to having anyone over – and if it’s time to replace it, be sure to swap it out with the appropriate air filter!

Related Article: Indoor Air Quality 101

Check Your Air Ducts For Possible Leaks

If you are noticing that your heating system is running, but the house is taking forever to warm up, you may have ripped or torn air ducts that are leaking air into the attic or crawlspace. A quick and simple way to check this is to briefly feel your attic or crawlspace to see if it is unusually warm!

If you go into your attic or crawlspace and it is much warmer than your home, chances are you are paying money to warm those areas due to leaking ducts. But don’t sweat! Here at All-Temp, we offer professional Staunton duct sealing services that can help eliminate this issue.

By getting your ducts repaired, you will notice greater air flow throughout the home, consistent temperatures in each room, and greater energy efficiency!

Related Article: Are Your Air Ducts Leaking? 

Test Your Thermostat For Proper Operation

Your thermostat is what controls your residential heating & air conditioning system. So if it fails to operate, you aren’t going to have any warm air in the home until it is fixed. If you are noticing that your thermostat may not be working correctly, here is a simple test you can do:

• Step 1: have someone go stand where your furnace is located. (if this is in the attic, please be careful while climbing up the ladder.)
• Step 2: have a different person turn the heat up on your thermostat. The person standing next to the furnace should hear a “click” sound, which will trigger the system to begin delivering heat.

If your system takes longer than just a few seconds to pass this test, then your thermostat may not be sending a timely command to the furnace – which indicates repairs may be needed.

Have Your System Tuned-Up Before The Party

Though we believe that all homeowners should have bi-annual preventative maintenance conducted through our comprehensive maintenance agreements, some homeowners don’t always get their system tuned-up. You will want to have a professional Harrisonburg HVAC company come perform maintenance on your system ahead of the party. Don’t wait until a few days before – as we may be booked up!

There are many benefits to routine maintenance, including:

• Increased lifespan
• Greater energy efficiency
• Lower utility bills
• Improved home comfort
• Reduced repair needs

If you haven’t gotten your furnace or heater serviced for it’s bi-annual maintenance, call All-Temp today!

Happy Holidays From The Team at All-Temp Heating & Cooling!

From our family to yours – we hope you have a happy and healthy holiday season. Please remember to cherish each moment you get to spend with your loved ones! And remember, if your HVAC system decides to be Scrooge and ruin your holiday spirit by not working, you can count on us for timely and professional Staunton heater repair.