5 Easy Ways to Give the Heart of your Home a little Love this Valentine’s Day

True Love Lasts Forever But Without A Little TLC, Your HVAC Unit Won’t!

February isn’t just about Valentine’s Day—it’s also National Heart Month, a perfect time to focus on your health and well-being. But while you’re caring for your heart, don’t forget about the heart of your home: your HVAC system!

Your HVAC works hard year-round to keep you and your family comfortable, yet it’s often easy to overlook its needs. Like any essential part of your home, it requires regular care to stay efficient and reliable.

That’s why Air Dynamics HVAC is here with a few quick tips to help you give your system the attention it deserves. Show your HVAC some love this season to ensure it keeps your home cozy and comfortable for years to come!

1. Seal Up Drafts In Your Home

Check for common draft-producing culprits. These can include areas such as the attic, basement, crawlspace, windows, and door frames. It’s a well-known fact; whether your home is brand new or 100 years old, nearly every homeowner will have to deal with drafts at one point or another. Some of the most common areas for this to occur include:

• Window & Door frames

• Knee walls (sidewalls that support attic rafters)

• Attic hatch/opening

• Wiring holes (cable TV, electrical outlets, phone lines)

• Plumbing vents

• Recessed lighting fixtures 

• Furnace flues or ducts

• Basement windows, access doors & rim joints

To help aid in your home’s energy efficiency and save money on your monthly utility bill; Air Dynamics recommends checking out this helpful article on Air Sealing Your Home by energy.gov for more detailed information on improving draft issues in your home.

2. Change Your Filters & sCHEDULE A sEASONAL tUNE-uP

Part of your heater’s job is to pull air from within your home into the HVAC system for reheating. Before it can be pushed back out to heat your home it must pass through your HVAC units filter. If your filter is clogged, your unit will have to work harder in order to push that reheated air throughout the system.

This February, consider giving your HVAC a new set of filters. We promise, your system will show it’s appreciation with improved performance and a longer lifespan. In fact, simply changing your HVAC unit’s filters is one of the easiest steps you can take to improve your home’s overall indoor air quality.

A clogged filter is not just tough on your HVAC unit’s internal components, it can also wreak havoc on your overall energy usage. Skyrocketing your monthly utility bill! Bottom line, A unit that needs to work harder results in a more expensive unit to operate.

Do yourself and your system a huge favor by easing the strain on your unit by changing your filters every four to six weeks.

Take the Worry Out by Scheduling Regular Maintenance

Overall, It is highly recommended that every HVAC system receives yearly maintenance. When your system is properly maintained, it will increase the overall lifespan of your HVAC unit by reducing and preventing problems from occurring.

At Air Dynamics HVAC we offer an affordable preventative maintenance program that is designed to detect issues before a problem occurs. Therefore, preventing the likelihood of any downtime or interruption to the comfort and operation of your business or home.

With every maintenance, our expert service technicians do more than just basic cleaning procedures & a filter change. We provide full reports on your equipment’s performance; including but not limited to pressures, temperatures, Amp draws, temperature splits, Etc. For more information on what is included in our Home Maintenance Plan and to find out how it can benefit you CLICK HERE.

3. Give Your Unit A Break!

Your system works hard all year long keeping you and your family comfortable. Showing your unit a little love this year can be as simple as turning your thermostat down just a few degrees. For every degree you can comfortably lower your in-home temp, you can expect to see up to 3% savings on your energy bills.

Turn your thermostat down a few degrees or consider adding a smart thermostat to your home for optimized energy efficiency. This simple act alone can save up to 10% off your monthly energy bill.

Show your furnace a little love this year by giving it a break!

Consider A Smart Thermostat

Smart thermostats are a literal game-changer! Not only do they give you the ability to control just how much energy your HVAC will consume each month. Some even provide additional energy-saving recommendations. In fact, we are seeing newer models of smart thermostats offering key features, like the ability to learn your temperature preferences over time.

This featured ability allows your thermostat to track the daily adjustments you make to your in-home temperature. Eventually making those very same changes all on their own. So, if you typically turn your thermostat down before leaving the house each morning, modern thermostats like the Nest Learning Thermostat by Google will in time take over that task for you. Lowering the temperature for you when you leave the house and raising it again in time for your expected return home. Taking the worry out of remembering and providing you with a nice comfortable temperature whenever you’re in your home without wasting energy.

4. Spend Some Time Dusting

No one likes spending time in a dusty home – least of all, your HVAC unit.

Break out the vacuum & duster! A major part of your furnace’s job is to cycle heated air back through your system. Filtering that air before pushing it back out into your home is an integral part of that process. That being said, the more dust, lint, and pet hair you have lying around your house, the more dirt/dust your unit will ultimately pick up with each cycle. This can not only aggravate those with allergies but can also affect your HVAC system’s overall performance. At Air Dynamics HVAC we recommend setting aside time to vacuum your carpets and upholstery at least once every other week.

Don’t forget to take a minute to sweep those hardwood floors and dust off furniture such as your home entertainment center or other household items that may have gathered dust build-up since your last cleaning with a microfiber cloth too. Not only will this aid in reducing strain on your unit thus increasing the efficiency of your HVAC system; you’ll benefit from breathing cleaner air as well. So, turn up those tunes and have fun with it!

5. Help Your System Breathe Easier

Ever feel like some rooms in your house are cooler than others? You might be right! In fact, As we move about our homes from day to day it is not uncommon for furniture to shift. This is especially true for more commonly used items like your sofa or loveseat. The truth is our furniture, rugs, and curtains are some of the most common household items that tend to shift when used & end up inadvertently blocking airflow from your home’s vents/registers.

When vents are blocked your unit needs to work that much harder to move air throughout your home. All of that extra work takes a toll on your system causing it to not only consume more energy but will also lessen the overall lifespan of your HVAC unit.

Here’s the kicker… your HVAC system isn’t alone in suffering damage due to blocked vents. Having furniture located near vents for long periods of time can ultimately cause damage to the furniture itself as well as creating humidity issues in your home.

Fixing the Problem

Consider purchasing a magnetic air deflector to redirect the air away from furniture

Thankfully, remedying the issue is fairly simple. First, take a look at your current furniture arrangement to see if any of your vents are being blocked by their placement. Keeping in mind that your vents need around 18 inches of space; rearrange your furniture and hem any long curtains to better provide them with the airflow they need. If you have no other choice in furniture arrangement, consider purchasing a magnetic air deflector to allow the air to blow away from the furniture.

Keep an eye out for issues

Just as it is important to keep an eye out for issues with your own health and to know when to reach out for professional help. The same goes for your HVAC unit!

If you notice odd noises coming from the unit, that your energy bill is suddenly higher, or that the temperature is constantly fluctuating in your home, it might be time to call an HVAC expert from Air Dynamics.

Catching smaller issues quickly can save you from a costly repair later on.

Want to know the best part? With all of the money you’ll be saving on those energy bills, you’ll be able to afford a truly unforgettable Valentine’s Day with your real sweetheart!