How well your HVAC system functions can have a big impact on your energy bills and your overall comfort level while at home. An efficient system will be able to provide your family with an adequate amount of comfort while keeping your utility bills in check throughout the winter months. One of the biggest factors that can impact the efficient operation of your heating system is the outdoor weather, especially the freezing cold weather.
More Excessive Runtimes
One of the biggest ways that cold air can impact your heating system is by causing it to run more often. It’s very common for homes to develop air leaks over time that can allow the cold outdoor air to seep into your home. This damage tends to develop on the exterior walls around the door and window frames.
As cold air enters your home through these air leaks, it will reduce your interior temperature. This will cause your heating system to kick on more often to help create more heat to get your home up to your desired temperature. This will drive up your home heating costs.
More Equipment Wear and Tear
Unfortunately, when your heating system is running overtime to try to keep up with your heating demands during cold nights, its internal components can experience damage. You’ll notice that components will wear out faster and are more prone to malfunctioning. Unfortunately, this will go a long way in shortening the overall lifespan of your heating system, but diligent annual heating maintenance can help offset some of the strain.
More Frequent Filter Changes
With your heating system running more often, the air in your home is going to be filtered even more. This is because the air continues to circulate throughout the HVAC filter as it gets heated. With more air filtering through the HVAC filter than usual, the filters are going to collect debris at a more rapid rate than you’re used to. In fact, you’ll likely find that you need to change out the filter on your heating system more often during the coldest time of the season, as its usable lifespan will be much shorter.
When the filter is full of debris and needs to be replaced, it will drastically reduce the operating efficiency of your heating system. For this reason, it’s a good idea to check your filter every month and replace it whenever necessary. Be sure to have an extra filter available so that you don’t have to wait to do the replacement.
Increased Breakdown Risk
With all the internal components of your heating system undergoing more wear and tear as they operate more often during a cold spell, the risk of experiencing a breakdown increases. Many people need to call for an emergency heating repair service during cold spells as compared to the rest of the winter season.
Inefficient Heat Pump Operation
Until recent years, many air-source heat pumps were unable to deal with freezing temperatures. When temperatures dipped close to freezing, these heat pumps would struggle to adequately pull enough heat out of the air to heat your home. In fact, many of these heat pumps had to switch over to their backup mode, which relied on an electric heating element to warm the air.
It’s important to know that the efficiency of air-source heat pumps lies in their ability to pull heat out of the air. When they switch over to the auxiliary heating element, their efficiency drops significantly. Some newer heat pumps are capable of handling operations at temperatures below freezing.
Seal Up Air Leaks
Because cold weather can have such a negative impact on your household heating system, it’s a good idea to take some proactive steps to help minimize the impact it has. One of the best things you can do is to seal off air leaks on your exterior walls. This can include leaks around door frames, window frames, light switches, and outlets. There are different materials you can use to seal up these leaks, depending on the application. Some of the most common materials include caulking, foam insert pads, and weatherstripping. The more you can seal off outdoor air from seeping into your home, the less often your heating system will have to run to combat the cold air.
Ensure You Schedule Maintenance Service
Another great way to ensure that your heating system is prepared for cold nights is to get professional heating maintenance service. This service will help to detect any potential problems that your system may have, like worn-out parts, so that they can be repaired before the extreme points of the season. This will go a long way in greatly reducing your risk of experiencing a breakdown. It’s also a great way to ensure your heating system is operating as efficiently as possible so that you don’t overspend on your energy bills.
Maintenance service allows our team to catch problems early. Homeowners who neglect routine HVAC maintenance typically experience more expensive, sudden, and involved repair needs over the lifespan of their equipment. We lubricate moving parts, inspect electrical connections, clean interior components, and much more. Let us know if you’ve noticed any issues with your HVAC system recently. We can keep an eye out for related problems.
Upgrade Your Heating System
If your existing heating system is over 10 years old, you may want to consider upgrading it. Newer heating systems come with higher operating efficiencies and have a lower risk of experiencing a breakdown compared to an older unit. This can be a great choice for those who have one of the older heat pumps that are unable to function efficiently at freezing temperatures.
Supplement With Ceiling Fans
When most people think about using ceiling fans, they think about using them during the summer months to create a cool and comfortable breeze. While ceiling fans can work well to help cool down the body without having to constantly turn down the temperature on your thermostat, their efficiency doesn’t stop at the end of summertime. In fact, ceiling fans can be a great addition to your home heating system to make it more efficient.
You’ll need to set your ceiling fans to spin in a clockwise motion so that it draws cold air upward and distributes warm air throughout the room. The more you’re able to circulate the warm air in your home, the less you will have to run your heating system to accommodate your heating needs. You may even want to consider investing in smart ceiling fans that have occupancy sensors. These fans will automatically turn on when they sense that someone is in the room to help boost the comfort level of that room while it’s occupied.
Expert Heating Maintenance Pros
Goettl's High Desert Mechanical offers expert heating maintenance and other heating services for the Camp Verde, AZ community. We can assist with all your cooling, heating, plumbing, indoor air quality, dryer vent cleaning, air duct, ductless mini-split, zone control system, and commercial needs.
Contact Goettl's High Desert Mechanical today to book your next HVAC service consultation.
