HVAC

If you’re like most homeowners, you spend some time during the holiday season traveling away from home. While you’re away, it’s important to ensure your home remains safe and undamaged. Below, we’ll discuss key HVAC tips to keep your home secure while you’re away on holiday.

Set Your Thermostat Appropriately

It can be tempting to turn your thermostat completely off when you know you’re not going to be home. The idea is that this could save you a bunch of money, as your heating system won’t have to run. However, that isn’t a good idea, as inadequate heating in your home can lead to significant damage. One of the most common forms of damage is frozen water lines.

You can avoid these issues by setting your thermostat at a reasonable temperature while you’re away. For most homes, this will be between 50 and 55 degrees Fahrenheit. If you have pets staying at home, be sure to keep the temperature between 60 and 65 degrees.

Pre-Trip HVAC Inspection

There’s no doubt that all HVAC systems break down at some point. It’s important to do everything possible to greatly minimize your risk of experiencing a system breakdown when you’re on vacation. One of the best ways to do this is to get a pre-trip HVAC inspection. This is where one of our experienced technicians will come out and assess your entire unit.

They’ll lubricate moving parts, tighten electrical connections, and replace worn-out components. This will help ensure both safe and efficient system operation during your holiday travels. This can go a long way toward giving you peace of mind about your HVAC unit’s operation when you’re away.

Replace HVAC Air Filter

Your HVAC air filter protects the internal components of your system and enhances your indoor air quality. Most homeowners find they need to replace their air filter every one to three months. We highly recommend putting in a new air filter before you leave on vacation.

This will help your system continue to operate efficiently when you’re away from home. A dirty air filter could drive up your heating costs without you even realizing it until you get back home from vacation.

Ensure an Adequate Supply of Fuel

One thing you absolutely don’t want to forget to do is check the amount of fuel that you have for your heating system. If you rely on heating oil or propane, you’ll have a storage tank at your property for your fuel. If you’re not signed up for an automatic fuel delivery service, it’s best to ensure that your tank is relatively full before you head out on vacation. You don’t want your heating system to run out of fuel when you’re not there.

Install a Smart Thermostat

If you don’t have a smart thermostat for your HVAC system, you should consider getting one. These are not only great for all the energy-efficient features they offer, but they also give you helpful insight into the performance of your heating system.

You can receive an alert on your smartphone whenever your heating system won’t turn on. This can allow you to respond relatively quickly to an issue. You won’t have to worry about returning home to extensive damage because your heating system failed to run throughout most of your vacation.

Leave Ceiling Fans to Winter Mode

Before you leave home, it’s a good idea to turn all your ceiling fans on low. They should be spinning clockwise, which is marked as winter mode on many fans. This will pull air upward and push warm air down along the walls. By circulating this warm air, you can help keep all areas of your home comfortable, including those sensitive spots under vanities and sinks.

Check Your Outdoor Condenser Unit

If you rely on a heat pump to heat your home, then you have an outdoor unit. For this unit to operate efficiently, it needs adequate airflow in and out. A good rule of thumb is to ensure there’s at least two feet of open space surrounding the unit for optimal airflow. Just before you leave for your travels, take a few moments to remove any debris, such as leaves, near your unit.

Check Indoor Airflow

Before you leave for your holiday vacation, take a few minutes to check the airflow throughout your home. The idea is to ensure proper airflow throughout all your rooms for even heating while you’re away. Leave all your interior doors fully open. Check all your supply and return vents for obstructions that could hinder airflow. These can include things like rugs, furniture, and even boxes.

Consider Getting a Surge Protector

Your HVAC system uses a variety of circuit boards to control its electrical operations. When power surges occur due to lightning or local grid outages, they can cause permanent damage to your unit’s circuit boards. This can render your HVAC system unable to operate when you’re away.

To protect your heating system from unexpected voltage surges, it’s best to install a surge protector. Whole-home surge protectors are the easiest option, as they protect all electrical circuits in your home. You can rest assured that if a power surge occurs while you’re away, your heating system won’t be damaged.

Get Wi-Fi Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors

All heating systems that burn natural gas, heating oil, or propane produce dangerous carbon monoxide. When your heating system malfunctions, it can cause these fumes to back up into your home. If left unchecked, they could reach dangerous levels that can be fatal to anyone who walks in.

Furthermore, if your heating system happens to overheat and catch fire, it’s essential to know about it. Combination smoke and carbon monoxide detectors with Wi-Fi can be extremely helpful in situations like these. These detectors will send an emergency alert to your smartphone so you can know the second something is wrong. Some detectors will even automatically contact the local fire department for you.

Consider a Backup Generator

One great investment for any homeowner is a backup generator. This can provide a steady supply of power to your HVAC system in the event you experience a power outage from your local grid. Newer standby generators will monitor your regular incoming electrical supply and automatically turn on when they detect a power outage. This can bring you peace of mind knowing that your heating system will continue to run even when your local grid goes down. This will prevent issues like frozen pipes.

Reliable HVAC Maintenance Service

A/C Plus Heating & Cooling offers reliable HVAC maintenance service for the Murfreesboro, TN area. We can also assist with all your HVAC repair, installation, and replacement needs. Contact A/C Plus Heating & Cooling today to schedule your next service appointment.

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