Common HVAC Mistakes To Avoid In The Winter
Winter is the time of year when people rely on their HVAC systems the most. That’s especially true in the Midwest and on the East Coast, where winters can be brutal. However, many people make some serious winter HVAC mistakes that cause nothing but trouble.
The most common winter HVAC mistake is that some people rely on old, dirty furnace filters. Dirty furnace filters and air ducts can increase pressure, overheat the system, and raise your enery bills. It’s also a mistake to neglect yearly furnace tune-ups and set your furnace below 55 degrees. Doing so can reusult in your pipes freezing and bursting.
Follow along as we highlight the most common winter HVAC mistakes to avoid.
Eight Common Furnace Mistakes In The Winter
1. Neglecting Your Thermostat
Thermostat problems can be quite sneaky, as they aren’t always apparent at first. For example, your furnace may run erratically with uneven temperatures if the thermostat’s batteries are low. If the batteries are dead, your furnace won’t even run, and it may seem like it’s broken.
Ideally, you should replace the batteries in your thermostat yearly. Keep track of when you put in new batteries, so you can replace them again at the same time next year. It’s also important to keep track of the thermostat’s age, as you may need to replace it.Â
Thermostats typically last 10 to 15 years, but they may experience problems before then. If the thermostat is within that range, it’s worth replacing it. In that case, you may want to upgrade to a smart thermostat.
2. Waiting Until It’s Too Cold
Many people understandably wait as long as possible before using their furnace during winter. After all, using a furnace can get expensive, especially between December and February. However, waiting too long can cause some unnecessary problems and discomfort.
That’s because many homeowners encounter problems when running their furnace for the first time of the year. Some of the key components in your furnace collect a lot of dust and debris during the year, even when you don’t use the furnace. In some cases, the furnace may not run when you first try to use it, or it may run poorly.
If you wait until it’s so cold for when you need the furnace, you may be out of luck. That’s why it’s important to test your furnace during the fall or early winter, so you know it works. Otherwise, you may need to spend extra on emergency repairs and sit in a cold house until someone shows up.
3. Putting Up With Dirty Ductwork
Understandably, some people only think about the parts of their HVAC system that they can easily see. That’s why many people keep dirty air ducts for longer than they should. Dirty air ducts can severely impact the air quality in your home, which is dangerous if you have respiratory problems.
A furnace can’t run efficiently when pushing air through dirty air ducts. Your furnace must work much harder, and it may run for a bit, turn off, then run again in an endless cycle. This is called short cycling, and it can significantly increase your bills.
It’s recommended that you get your air ducts cleaned every 3 to 5 years to avoid these problems. Doing so should reduce your bills throughout the winter and improve the indoor air quality in your home.
4. Using The Same Filter From Last Winter
Many seasoned HVAC technicians will tell you that many homeowners don’t replace their HVAC filters often enough. That includes the AC filter and furnace filter, both of which can get dirty quickly. Some people forget about their furnace filter when winter ends and spring begins.
Because of that, they may run their furnace early in the winter without having changed the filter. Not only can this negatively impact the furnace’s performance, but it can also increase your bills. Dirty filters restrict airflow, hinder furnace performance, and can strain the unit. Â
A furnace must work harder when the filter is dirty, and this can take a toll on the mechanism. Ideally, you should change the furnace filter before you run the furnace. Otherwise, you must pay extra for a poor performance.
5. Maintaining A Constant Temperature
It’s tempting to set your furnace to run at the same temperature until the winter ends. However, doing so can wreak havoc on a furnace and cost you a fortune this winter. Constantly running your furnace at 70 degrees Fahrenheit 24/7 can significantly increase your gas and electric bills.
HVAC professionals recommend running your furnace at a lower temperature at night than you do during the day. That way, your furnace won’t run as hot overnight while you’re sleeping. Reducing the temperature at night is even recommended by the U.S. Department of Energy. Â
Smart thermostats let you program specific temperatures for different times of the day. That way, you can set your thermostat to reduce the temperature at night and raise it in the morning.
6. Skipping Your Yearly Tune-Up
Some people understandably think that HVAC companies are trying to get more money from them when they recommend yearly tune-ups. Of course, they want your business, but they’re correct when they say that yearly tune-ups are necessary. During a tune-up, an HVAC technician can inspect, clean, and calibrate your AC and furnace to run as effecrively and as efficiently as possible.
They can inspect each component to ensure the furnace doesn’t have any serious underlying issues, possibly catching problems before it’s too late. Without a tune-up, you may be surprised when your furnace stops running on a cold winter day.
The results of your yearly tune-up can ultimately save you hundreds or thousands of dollars. The best-case scenario is that you won’t need to make any repairs. Otherwise, you’ll be glad to pay for repairs if they find problems, as that’s better than scheduling emergency repairs.
7. Blocking And Closing Vents
It’s tempting to close a return vent in your home if a room gets too hot. Similarly, you may inadvertently block some of your return vents with decorations, plants, and furniture. Doing so can create too much pressure within the air ducts, and the furnace will pay the price.
Once this happens, it will likely work harder than it needs to, and it may overheat. The biggest danger is that you may damage the heat exchanger, which can even crack. This can fill your home with carbon monoxide, which can be deadly.Â
In that case, you must turn the furnace off, evacuate your home, and call an emergency HVAC line. Of course, these problems won’t likely occur if you temporarily block your vents. However, it’s important to know what’s possible.
8. Turning Off Your Furnace
While you should lower your thermostat at night during the winter, you should never turn it off entirely. Setting your thermostat below 55 degrees Fahrenheit during the winter in some cases can yield devastating results. That’s especially true when the outside temperature is at 32 degrees Fahrenheit or below.
The higher you set your furnace, the less likely you are to experience burst pipes. That doesn’t mean you should blast your furnace as high as possible all winter. While 55 degrees is the ideal minimum, it’s a good idea to set your thermostat to 68-69 degrees at night.
That said, your pipes can still freeze when running the furnace if you don’t protect them. Insulate your pipes and let your faucets drip during freezing temperatures. Doing so can prevent your pipes from freezing and bursting, saving you thousands of dollars in repairs.
Summing It Up
Avoid running your furnace at the same time all day and night during the winter, as you’ll strain the system. It’s best to reduce the temperature at night when you sleep, but keep it above 55 degrees to prevent frozen pipes. Replace the filter, have the air ducts cleaned, and schedule an HVAC tune-up before it gets too cold.
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Nick Durante is a professional writer with a primary focus on home improvement. When he is not writing about home improvement or taking on projects around the house, he likes to read and create art. He is always looking towards the newest trends in home improvement.
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