There’s an old saying, “Arizona – where summer spends the winter.” The Valley of the Sun is a beautiful place to be for the holidays. People migrate to Phoenix during the winter months precisely because the desert weather is so delightful. However, December is here, and nighttime temperatures have been dropping into the 40s and below. January, which is generally considered the coldest month of the year, is just around the corner. If you haven’t done so already, you might want to spend a few hours preparing your home for the cold weather ahead. Consider a pre-winter walk through your house to review your heating system and to make sure there are no surprises during your holiday celebrations.
Pre-Winter Walk Through
By December, your furnace has been sitting idle for many months. Taking the time to go through your house and check all the various elements of your heating system will pay big dividends when the cold weather rolls in. Here are a few important things to review during your walk through:
Check Your Gas Furnace to Make Sure the Pilot Light is On
We often receive calls from customers on the first truly cold day of winter claiming their heat won’t go on. If you’ve got a gas furnace, check the pilot light before you do anything else. If you’re not familiar with the procedure, lighting a gas pilot can be tricky. Furnaces get dusty and this can cause issues. You will also notice an unusual smell the first time you fire up your furnace as the dust burns off. These are all items we can take care of during your pre-winter tune-up.
Is the Area Clear Surrounding Your Heating Elements?
Over the summer, stuff can accumulate around your furnace and heating elements. Furnaces located in the garage particularly are in a position to be surrounded by boxes, toys or other household items. Make sure there’s nothing combustible anywhere near your furnace.
Walk Through Your House and Check All Vents and Registers
The key to properly heating your home is to make sure the heated air is unobstructed and circulating properly. Sometimes vents are covered by furniture, boxes, suitcases or throw rugs. Are all the registers fully open? Dust can accumulate on the registers, so it’s a good idea to vacuum them or blow them out if you can.
Indoor Air Quality – Check Your Air Filters
One of the best ways to improve your overall HVAC performance and your indoor air quality, is to make sure you are changing your air filters on a regular basis. Clean air filters are the key to removing desert dust, pet dander and other irritants from the air circulating in your home.
Heavy Curtains Can Cut Down on Energy Costs
Many homeowners think of curtains as a design or aesthetic choice, which they certainly are. However, when we observe lightweight or sheer curtains adorning a house, we see energy dollars going out the window. Heavy or black out drapes help hold heat in and they also keep the sun out in the summer.
Check Window and Door Insulation – Don’t Forget the Garage Door
One of the biggest heat-stealers in your home is the off-kilter garage door that leaves a gap open at the bottom all winter long. In fact, you might be surprised during your walk through to find you have gaps in your window or door insulation. Yes, these are annoying problems to fix, but they can have a major impact on the efficiency of your home heating costs.
Our Friendly Service Technicians Will Be Happy to Help You Prepare for Winter
If the above list sounds daunting, give Bruce’s a call at 480-968-5652, and we’ll schedule one of our highly experienced professionals to come over and help you get your entire HVAC system ready for winter.
