While our hearts are holding tight to these last precious days of summer, our brains are in planning mode for the changing season. School will be back in session in a few weeks in South Jersey, which means schedules are about to change as well. How can you make sure your heating and cooling system is ready for a new routine? Heating Specialties of Fairton, N.J., can help you do your homework now, so you’ll be scoring great marks on your home comfort throughout the year. Read on for more tips:
Change your heating and cooling system schedule
During the summer months, you and your family probably followed different routines. College students were home, younger children had summer camp activities, families took exciting vacations. Now you’re heading back into the school year, when you’re getting up early and leaving the house for most of the day. Make sure your thermostat is changing its schedule as well. Are you still using an old manual thermostat to heat and cool your home? That outdated technology could be costing you money in utility bills, home comfort, and convenience.
A programmable thermostat lets you take control of your heating and cooling system, setting a schedule for your family’s daily activities. As we move into the colder months, you can lower the temperature at night but set the thermostat to warm things up just before the alarm goes off, making it a little easier for your kids to haul themselves out of bed in the mornings. You can even take it a step further with a smart thermostat, which attaches to your home’s WiFi and lets you control the home temperature from your phone app. Depending on the model, your smart thermostat can learn your family’s schedule and set an optimal heating and cooling routine that ensures you’re getting the most comfort for your dollars.
Start cleaning up for the changing season
You’ve heard of spring cleaning, but have you thought about fall cleaning chores? Get a head start on keeping your home cleaner and your heating and cooling system more efficient with these tasks:
Change your air filter. We’re approaching the season where we all stay inside and only venture out for errands or a walk to our cars. A clean air filter gives you a fresh head start. When you swap out your dirty filter for a clean one, you’re giving your heating and cooling system a little break, because it won’t have to work so hard to pull in outside air. When was the last time you changed your air filter? Hint: If you can’t remember, it’s probably past due for a replacement.
Check the area around your outdoor compressor. Late-summer storms can deposit leaves, branches and other debris around your outdoor unit. Do your unit a favor and keep that area clear, so you don’t wind up with a dirty unit or yard waste that damages the unit’s fan blades.
Get your ducts in a row. Your ductwork does the important job of distributing hot and cold air around your home, ensuring your overall comfort. But dirty ducts can affect your overall health and comfort. Nobody wants to be dealing with illness, especially in the early days of a new school year. If you’re noticing whistling noises or uneven cooling and heating, you should talk to Heating Specialties about repairing or replacing your ductwork.
Consider cleaner indoor air. As cold air takes over South Jersey, you and your family will be spending more time indoors. Your forced air system’s filter does a great job of catching the bigger particles that try to come inside, but an indoor air quality solution takes the cleaning duties a few steps higher. Air cleaners, air purifiers, UV germicidal lights and ionization devices are healthy alternatives for removing airborne contaminants like allergens, pollutants and bacteria from your indoor air.
Plan ahead for heating system maintenance
Here at Heating Specialties, we believe that regular maintenance plays an important role in your system’s longevity and efficiency. We recommend two yearly maintenance visits – one in the spring for your AC, and one in the fall for your heating system. Our trained technicians will thoroughly inspect your system, checking for any broken parts or loose wires that can interfere with optimal home comfort. We’ll also give it a thorough cleaning, ensuring a fresh start for your back-to-school schedule.
Your heating and cooling system needs to be ready for a new school-year schedule. Tackle your to-do list now by scheduling your fall heating system tune-up now. Call Heating Specialties at (866) 923-2653 or reach out online to schedule an appointment. Want to talk about a new programmable thermostat or an air quality solution? Heating Specialties brings more than 30 years’ experience to the South Jersey area. You can trust Heating Specialties for your family’s home comfort.