Temperatures are starting to drop in the Twin Cities metro area. Are you confident that your home is ready to withstand the chilly winter that is fast approaching?
Here are several steps that you can take to ensure that your HVAC system is ready to work hard for you this winter.
Seal your ducts
Your heating equipment can’t function efficiently if your ducts are leaking valuable conditioned air. The average home loses 20 percent of its air before it ever reaches the supply ducts. Therefore, it’s crucial that you seal any leaks in your ducts. You can do this by spreading duct mastic over leaks. This putty-like material goes on smooth, and then hardens to form an impenetrable seal that keeps your costly air from escaping.
Upgrade your heating equipment
If your heating system is more than 15 years old, upgrading to a more modern system could cut your energy expenses by as much as half. New models provide better overall energy efficiency, and are much less likely to break down, which saves you from shelling out lots of money on expensive repairs.
Take advantage of government offers
There are plenty of government incentives that help ease the burden of cost for upgrading to more energy efficient systems. Rebates and tax credits add to the energy savings that you will generate, which in turn will help offset the cost of the upgrade.
Schedule preventive maintenance
Have a professional HVAC contractor inspect your heating equipment now before the chill arrives. The contractor will check all components for signs of wear and tear, and replace any parts that could cause problems down the line. Your technician also will clean all parts to ensure that they are operating at maximum efficiency.
Change your air filters
Replacing your air filters on a regular basis not only ensures that they will filter your air efficiently, it also protects your heating system from working overtime to push costly conditioned air through filters clogged with particles that could flow back into your home. Changing your air filters regularly (at least every three months) also ensures that your indoor air quality remains high. Look for filters with a MERV (Minimum Efficiency Rating Value) rating of 7 or higher, which promote clean air circulation.
For more tips on how to brace your home for the upcoming chill, contact Marsh Heating & Air Conditioning. We have proudly served residential and commercial customers in the Twin Cities metro area since 1974.
Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about buttoning up your home and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
Marsh Heating and Air Conditioning services Minnesota’s Twin Cities. Visit our websiteto see our special offers and get started today!
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