Depending on how long you have lived in Columbia, South Carolina, you probably know that we really only have two seasons here; summer and winter. We have what we call fall and spring, but if you aren’t careful the winter will spring up on you with the blink of an eye and the temperatures will fall. Before you know it the snuggies will be worn, the heaters turned on, and the fireplaces lit.
You may not be thinking about your heating system right now, but now is the best time to have your heating unit serviced, inspected, and repaired; before you are actually using it. A good rule of thumb is to make sure that you have your heater checked and tested at least a month before the colder months actually start. It is better to have this done before you need a repair during a really cold day and have to go without heating.
As with any complex electrical or mechanical systems that have not been used in a while; it is important to have them checked out for any dysfunctional components or potential problems that could cause your home heater to break down. Below you will find the things that you can be done by yourself as well as more complex issues that require a professional in order to have a safe and efficient system.
Potential dangers and safety issues with unused home heating
One of the main causes of home fires is home heating whether it be your HVAC system, fireplaces, space heaters, or anything else. Especially since winter is right after fall when all of the leaves are on the ground and around your system, there is a higher fire risk involved in running your unit. Fortunately, most of these problems can be prevented with the proper precautions. Below are a few safety issues and how they can be prevented.
- Outside heater dirty and cluttered. If the outside unit is covered in leaves and debris then there is a higher risk for fire. This may cause the home to smell like there is something burning or even cause an actual fire. Be sure to check the unit outside and clean off any visual flammable objects.
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Check for carbon monoxide leak. With gas heating, you run the serious risk of having carbon monoxide pumped into your house which can be extremely harmful to breathe. A trained technician can check the functionality of your system to ensure that the carbon monoxide is being filtered out instead of in.
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Loose or corroded wiring. This is an issue that can cause your home heater to not receive power and hence make your home cold during the winter. This can also pose another serious fire hazard if not corrected properly.
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Use space heaters sparingly and carefully. Even with an efficient heating system, a space heater can be useful in many situations. If two people have different ‘temperature natures’ then one may be cold while the other is hot and space heaters can close this gap without changing the temperature on the thermostat. However, make sure that you keep the heater 3 feet away from other objects and do not run it too long. It is dangerous to run a space heater all night long when you are sleeping.
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Do NOT use stove for heating the house. This may seem like common sense, but you would be surprised. Stoves are not a good source of heat for a home and pose a serious fire hazard as well.
Making home heating energy efficient and safe
Another concern outside of safety is making sure that your heating system is running efficiently so that your wallet is safe as well as your health. There are several things that you can do to reduce your energy costs by yourself and many that can be done by a licensed professional as well. Below are the steps that you can take to make sure that your energy bills are minimized while staying comfortable during the cold winter months.
- When not using your fireplace, make sure that the dampers are closed so that essential hot air is not escaping out of the chimney.
- Change your filter once a month to ensure that your home heating is not having to work harder than necessary.
- Close vents in rooms that are not in use so that the hot air is being focused into the rooms that are in use.
- Close doors to rooms that are not in use so that the hot air is concentrated in the main living areas of your home.
- Use a home humidifier to maintain a level of 20-40% humidity which will make your home feel warmer without turning up the heater.
- During the day make sure you let all the sunlight in that you can. Even though the sun is not heating up the air outside, the sunlight will create a ‘microwave’ effect in your house which can naturally heat your home.
Below are a few things that your heating service provider can do to increase the energy efficiency of your home:
- Check ductwork for leaks, cracks, and clutter. A trained professional can come to your home and inspect your ductwork to make sure that they are open and clean for air to flow through.
- Install attic insulation. There are ways that you can insulate an attic without hiring someone to do it for you. However, using a professional takes the work off of your busy schedule and ensures that the job is done right the first time.
- Check crawl space for air infiltration and insulation. Crawl spaces can be insulated just like your attic and can often have leaks to the outside where cold air can infiltrate your house. Have a professional perform the necessary checks and tests to figure out if your crawl space could be more efficient.
- Install a programmable thermostat. Programmable thermostats are capable of turning on and off at preset times in order to save energy. For example, if your family is at work all day long then your thermostat can turn off right after you leave and turn on in enough time to have your home warm by the time you get back.
These are just a few ways that you can do it yourself and have a professional service your whole home heating system including ducts, the unit itself, attic and crawl spaces, and cleaning the appropriate components like vents and filters. It is also very important to make sure that you have any repairs done ahead of time to make sure that when your heater is needed, it is also ready.
Comfort Services is proud to serve the midlands and Columbia, SC with air conditioning services like installation, repair, maintenance, and duct cleaning. Call the heating and cooling experts at 803-772-4490 for a free quote today!
