When the temperature drops in the cold months, the best thing you can do for your home is prepare it for a freeze. Some areas are more prone to a freeze than others and may sustain damage if left unprepared.
At Champion Home Services, we want to help ensure the comfort of your home. That’s why we’ve compiled this helpful guide to help you prepare your home for the cold months.
What Areas are Vulnerable to a Freeze?
During the cold months, certain areas of your home are more vulnerable to a freeze. Without proper preparation, they may become damaged and require costly repairs or replacements. It’s best to pay careful attention to these areas before the temperature drops.
Electrical System
Even with a functioning heating system, you’ll likely be plugging in space heaters or heated blankets during the cold months. Because of this increased use of electricity, it’s essential to prepare your electrical system for a freeze.
Your electrical system is not only at risk of being overworked, but there’s also a chance of weather damage when the cold months hit. A busted electrical panel can cause big problems in the winter and could result in costly repairs.
HVAC Units
Perhaps even more important for winter than your electrical system, your HVAC system is especially vulnerable during a freeze. Much like your electrical system, your HVAC units may also be at risk for damage.
More importantly, your heating system works hard during the cold months. If you neglect to prep it for the winter, it could result in significant damage. The system may even shut down completely. Thankfully, there are a few ways you can prevent these issues.
Prepping Your HVAC System for a Freeze
So, how can you prep your HVAC system for the cold winter ahead? With these methods, you can ensure your home is comfortable and not have to worry about an unexpected heater problem.
Perform a Test Run
Gradually running your heating system for a few weeks can help prep it for the long winter months ahead. It may not automatically run properly after turning it on after such a long period of idleness, so doing frequent test runs can help wake your system up.
This can also help alert you to any strange noises or smells that might indicate a problem. Fixing an issue before you need the heating system can prevent stress and may even cost less if it isn’t the dead of winter.
Replace Air Filter
Many homeowners forget to replace their HVAC system’s air filters, which should ideally be done every few months. Over time, filters become clogged with dust, pet hair and other unwanted materials. This forces your system to work harder to blow out air that may not even be warm.
Replacing your air filters is essential for the health of your system and your home’s air quality. A clogged filter can cause allergies to flare up and may be dangerous to people with severe asthma.
You can replace your air filter on your own or contact an HVAC technician. A professional will usually replace your filter during a tune-up.
Schedule a Tune-Up
Routine maintenance is the best thing for an HVAC system. A technician will perform a thorough inspection of the system’s moving parts. Some other components of a tune-up include:
- Air filter replacement
- Electrical component inspection
- Condensate drain inspection
- Coil cleaning
Tune-ups can help prevent unexpected breakdowns, avoiding the need for costly repairs or replacements. They can also extend the lifespan of your system and keep your home at a consistently comfortable temperature all winter long.
Turn to the HVAC Pros
If your HVAC system sustained damage during the cold months, the HVAC professionals at Champion Home Services can quickly and effectively perform a heater repair. No matter the condition of your heater, our technicians will be able to get it running as normal again in no time.
Champion Home Services is here for all your HVAC needs. For service from the best San Antonio HVAC company, contact us today!
