Winter temperatures can be brutal here in Indiana. As the temperature starts to plummet, it’s essential to ensure your heating system is in working order, whether you have a furnace, heat pump, mini-split, or another unit. After all, there’s nothing worse than a complete heater breakdown in the middle of winter!
No single action can totally eliminate the possibility of system failure, but there are a few ways to reduce your risk of a broken heater. Here are five tricks you can use to help prevent heater breakdown this year!
Improve Your Insulation
If your heater is cranked up to the max on a sub-zero day, but all that precious warm air is leaking out of your home through gaps and cracks, you might as well be throwing money away and even causing potential problems as your system works harder to compensate. In order to prevent your heater from overworking itself, grab some basic supplies from your local hardware store to improve your home’s insulation. Here are a few techniques you can try:
- Install weather stripping around doors and windows to eliminate air leaks.
- Add insulation to your attic, ducts, and crawlspace.
- Ensure the fireplace damper is closed when the fireplace is not in use.
- Invest in thicker curtains made to keep warm air inside.
Change Your Filter
Your heating system can also become overworked and end up failing if you don’t take care of the unit. One way to give your heater some TLC is to change its air filter regularly. Over time, air filters accumulate tons of dust, dirt, and grime. You wouldn’t want all that in your lungs, and neither does your system! Regularly changing your filter will reduce the risk of breakdowns, keep your space more comfortable, and reduce your heating bills. It’s a win for everyone, so be sure to stay on top of this task (or have our heating services experts do it for you).
Don’t Miss Maintenance
The best prevention starts with great preparation, which is especially accurate for home HVAC systems. Routine maintenance is the number one way to stay on top of potential heater issues. Our technicians specialize in HVAC maintenance and indoor air quality in West Lafayette, IN, so you can ensure your home is efficiently heated, and your air is safe to breathe!
Try New Technology
If you’ve never thought about getting a smart thermostat, now’s the time. This innovative new HVAC technology won’t prevent a breakdown by itself, but a smart thermostat can help you monitor your system and keep an eye out for red flags. And since you can control or check your thermostat remotely with a few simple taps on your phone, you can be aware of what’s happening from anywhere.
Upgrade Your Heating System
Once your system has exceeded its recommended service lifespan, it becomes harder and harder to avoid a breakdown. If your system is older than 10-15 years (for furnaces, boilers, and older units) or over 20 years (for more modern HVAC systems such as heat pumps), the best way to prevent problems is to purchase a new, modern system. It’s a bit of an investment upfront, but it’ll pay for itself over time and bring you peace of mind when you can heat your home without worrying.
The Heating Technicians You Can Trust
We hope these quick tips help you protect your home and family this year. Whether you need heating repair, water heater help, or a simple system check-up, you can always rely on the Boiler Heating & Cooling team. Plus, financing a new system is even easier than ever. Give us a call anytime or schedule service online. We’ll be there soon!