The holiday season is prime time for family fun and in-home gatherings. If you plan on hosting a festive family event this holiday season, then be sure to consider your HVAC unit as part of the party preparations. With a bit of foresight and routine HVAC maintenance, you can guarantee your family and friends will enjoy their stay. The following HVAC tips are simple ways to help maximize your indoor comfort as the advent of a new year approaches.

Air Filter Maintenance

The most basic step anyone can take is to clean or replace the air filters around their home. Dirty air filters restrict airflow and force your appliances to work harder than usual. This increases your energy bills and wears down the equipment that much faster. A clean filter improves the indoor air quality and energy efficiency of your unit dramatically. Plus, your guests will appreciate the circulation of clean air throughout your residence as they come and go during the busy season.

Clear Vents and Clean the Registers

Dusting is a fantastic way to improve the aesthetic of your home before guests arrive. That said, cleaning up near your vents and registers will help improve airflow and keep the oxygen supply fresh in your crowded abode. In addition to vacuuming around these fixtures, make sure no rugs or other obstructions are blocking your vent duct openings. If you hear any rattling or whistling noises that fail to go away after a deep cleaning, call a service professional to take a look. When your vents operate at full strength, you’ll notice how evenly the warmth gets distributed throughout your residence.

Assess Your Carbon Monoxide and Smoke Detectors

Both carbon monoxide and smoke detectors play a key role in your family’s safety. Since the holidays are prone to lots of cooking, candles, and fireplace sessions, these devices are more crucial than ever this time of year. Make sure to test each unit throughout your home well in advance of your guests showing up. This gives you ample time to replace the batteries or schedule a repair if a problem is found. Be sure each of these sensors is working as intended so that you can enjoy peace of mind while relaxing with your loved ones.

Set the Thermostat for Ultimate Comfort

A major concern this time of year is balancing the temperature so that everyone is comfortable. The first thing to take into account is how many people will be in attendance. More bodies than usual will raise the heat in any given room, so you may need to lower your thermostat from its usual setting to accommodate a gathering. Should your home have a smart thermostat, you can even schedule the temps to drop slightly before the guests arrive and raise them back up at night while everyone sleeps. You can even use zone controls to target individual rooms where you know everyone will sit for dinner or entertainment.

Schedule Professional Maintenance Regularly

The ideal way to know for sure that your HVAC system is ready for the holiday rush is to have it assessed by a licensed professional. When you schedule a professional evaluation from A/C Plus Heating & Cooling, we’ll thoroughly examine your equipment from top to bottom. We’re experts at spotting wear, minor issues, and major problems. Plus, we can offer ways to improve the efficiency of your setup. From there, you’ll get honest and concise advice on how to address any problems found. Regularly scheduled maintenance keeps your equipment operating at peak efficiency while extending the lifespan of your critical infrastructure.

If you already know what’s wrong with your HVAC unit, you can schedule specific services like heater maintenance as well. Due to the busy nature of the holiday season, we advise all of our customers to call as early as possible to ensure plenty of time for HVAC service before your guests arrive.

Bolstering Insulation and Sealing Air Leaks

Any gaps in your home’s defenses will demand your HVAC system work harder than usual. The goal is to search around your windows, doors, and other openings for any leaks or areas with weak insulation. Take steps such as weatherstripping your doors or applying caulk to windows well before your guests appear. Attics and crawl spaces are easily overlooked, but they usually require more insulation to equalize the temperature within. These measures will improve overall comfort and should lower your energy bills a bit over time.

Provide Extra Warmth With a Fireplace or Space Heater

When you have family or friends who get cold easily, try using your fireplace or a space heater to alleviate their chills. A localized source of extra heat has a smaller impact on your energy bill than upping the thermostat and raising the temperature of the whole house. Fireplaces and space heaters also provide a cozy vibe that will help your guests sink into the holiday spirit and enjoy your hospitality that much more. Make sure to use them safely.

Keep Flammables Out of Reach

Many holiday favorites like Christmas trees and wrapping paper are just as flammable as they are fun. If you anticipate children running around your house this year, be sure to place the flammable objects in a relatively safe place with lots of adult supervision. The last thing you want is for the festivities to be cut short by something dangerous, like a tree sitting too close to a furnace or a space heater burning up some discarded wrapping paper.

Get to Know a Reliable Emergency Service Provider

Despite our advice to have your HVAC holiday preparation checklist completed as soon as possible, we completely understand that most issues with your home occur unexpectedly. That’s why you should always have a good backup plan in case bad luck strikes at an inopportune moment, such as right before your big family event. A/C Plus Heating & Cooling offers extensive 24/7 emergency services for customers in our coverage area. Just give us a call, and we’ll be there to help salvage this important time with your loved ones.

Get Ready Today

A/C Plus Heating & Cooling has proudly served Murfreesboro and the surrounding communities since 1997. We’ve attracted a sizable following of loyal customers thanks to our upfront pricing, honest technicians, and impeccable service quality. Our commitment to craftsmanship helps us stand out from the sea of competition. In addition to our extensive heating and holiday services, ask about our AC repairs, cooling, and full system installations as well. No matter the nature of your HVAC project, we have a handy technician who would be happy to help. Don’t forget about our 24/7 emergency repair services either, especially the next time you find yourself in a bit of a pickle right before the holiday rush kicks off. For first-rate HVAC services in Murfreesboro, TN, give A/C Plus Heating & Cooling a call today!

Meet the Author
Garrett Vaughn
Garrett Vaughn

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