North Carolina winters can become frigid in January and February. The colder it is, the harder your HVAC system must work. Here are 5 tips to help your HVAC perform under extreme conditions.
1. Turn Down Your Thermostat (A Little)
You can cut the amount of effort your HVAC unit has to expend by lowering your thermostat by a few degrees. What you don’t want to do is turn your thermostat down significantly while you’re gone and then turn it back up when you get home — this leads to your heating system working even harder to warm the air back up.
Instead, simply lower the thermostat by two to three degrees and leave it there to keep your system from having to work so hard throughout the winter.
2. Clean Your Heating System Filters
If your HVAC unit’s filters are dirty or clogged with debris, this makes it more difficult for your system to push warm air through your unit into your home. The air in your home stays cooler, prompting your thermostat to keep your system on to raise the temperature to its setting. Make sure your unit’s filters are clean prior to the winter season so your system does not have to fight harder than necessary to get warm air into your home or business. Check your filters monthly and replace if dirty.
3. Keep Your Outdoor Unit Clean
Although snow is sporadic during North Carolina winters, it can wreak havoc on your outdoor HVAC unit. Whether you have a ductless or ducted heating system, if your outdoor unit is covered in snow and ice, it’s going to have a much harder time working efficiently. Make sure to keep your outdoor unit clean throughout the winter to ensure it stays in good working condition when you need it most. For warmer winters, keep grass, weeds, pets, and debris away from your outdoor unit as well.
4. Consider Ductless HVAC
Ductless HVAC is the most efficient heating available on the market and is designed to work extraordinarily well in low and even sub-zero temperatures. For example, Mitsubishi Electric is a top provider of ductless HVAC equipment that can continue to heat efficiently in temperatures as low as -13 degrees Fahrenheit! It does this using INVERTER® technology that allows the unit’s compressor to operate at higher heating speeds in colder weather.
5. Use Supplemental Heating When Necessary
Although ductless heating is plenty capable of heating a home in even the most frigid weather, if you have supplemental heating available, it may be a good idea to use it when the temperatures drop below freezing. Wood stoves and gas fireplaces are a good supplement for ductless heating; however, they tend to reduce indoor air quality if utilized frequently. Electric heaters and opening blinds and window coverings to allow the sun to warm your home are also ways to add extra heat on bitter cold days.
Get Help Battling Brutal Winters with All Weather Mechanical, Inc.
You cannot afford not to be comfortable in your own home. At All Weather Mechanical, Inc., we can help you come up with creative solutions that are specifically designed with your unique needs and available resources in mind. Contact us today at (910) 554-3252 for more information.
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