How to Care for Your Furnace When It's Dormant

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Most households stop using their furnace once the spring season arrives because they simply don't need it anymore. However, you still want to care for the unit and prepare it before the winter season so that when the weather gets cold again, the system is operating properly. Here are a few furnace-care tips that you should follow:

Hire an HVAC Technician

The first thing to remember about keeping any type of HVAC equipment running smoothly is to have it checked out by a professional technician at least once every year. The warmer months are the perfect time to have your furnace maintenance scheduled, because the techs won't be busy with those types of requests.

Test It Out Periodically

The last thing you want is to turn on the furnace at the beginning of the cold season only to find that it's probably not been working for a while. Test it out by letting the system run periodically to see if it seems to be functioning properly, especially as you get closer to the winter months.

Clean or Replace the Air filter

It's always best that you check your furnace's air filter once per month, but there's a good chance that you didn't take a look at it when the winter season ended. To make sure you're ready for the next winter season, check to see if the filter is filled up and then either clean or replace it if that's the case.

Remove All Obstructions

Since you won't be using the furnace for a while, you and other household members may get a little careless with regard to placing obstructions near the equipment, which can impede its operation and act as a fire hazard. Before you turn the system on again, be sure to remove anything that's been placed close to the unit.

As you can see, proper furnace care doesn't take a whole lot of time or effort. If you would like more tips or need service for your home or business, the experts at Air Assurance can assist you. We've been serving the needs of Broken Arrow and the surrounding areas since 1985.

How to Switch from Heating to Cooling in Spring

The annual ritual of transitioning to cooling after a long winter of heating your house involves more than flipping one switch “Off” and another “On.” There are good reasons for following a recommended sequence of shutting down the furnace and starting up the central air conditioner. You’ll be leaving the furnace in good shape for the heating season next fall while also preparing the A/C to provide optimum cooling performance at the lowest costs during the long, hot summer ahead.

For shutting down the furnace and transitioning to cooling this spring, here’s a brief checklist:

• Schedule annual preventative maintenance with your HVAC contractor. This includes a full checkup, plus a list of manufacturer-recommended maintenance procedures performed by a qualified HVAC service technician. In addition to ensuring maximum cooling and reliability all summer long, professional preseason maintenance supports reduced energy consumption and lower monthly bills.

• Shut off the furnace. Change the thermostat setting from “Heat” to “Off.” At the furnace, turn the main gas valve to the “Off” position to stop the flow of gas.

• Replace the air filter. The system filter in your indoor air handler needs changing after winter heating operation. Replace it with a pleated cotton or polyester filter that has a MERV efficiency rating of at least 8. All summer, continue to replace the filter monthly.

• Check air vents in all rooms. Make sure HVAC supply and return vents in each room are open and unobstructed. Closed vents can disrupt air balance in rooms throughout the house and cause your A/C to run longer cycles.

• Inspect the outdoor unit. Make sure the outdoor A/C condenser unit isn’t covered and that no objects are placed on top. Weeds or vegetation around the unit should be cut back to clear 2 feet of space on all sides.

• At the thermostat, set the function switch to "Cool" and also review programmed temperatures.

When it's time for transitioning to cooling, contact the Air Assurance pros for professional service and advice.

Preparing Your Thermostat for Cooling Season

With cooling season on the horizon, it's time to prepare your home and thermostat so they're optimized for comfort and energy efficiency. Here's how you can get ready for the coming change in weather and temperature.

Invest in New Thermostat Technology

If you rely on a basic digital control to regulate your home's HVAC system, you'll appreciate the convenience that a programmable thermostat provides. The Department of Energy (DOE) also advises that going programmable can save you up to 10 percent on your yearly HVAC energy consumption. When choosing a new thermostat, look for one that works with your type of HVAC equipment and also meshes with your usual weekly routine.

Prime Your HVAC for Summer Energy Savings

To reap the greatest savings, the DOE recommends programming your thermostat with different temperature adjustments for specific periods each day: lower when you're home and active, and higher when everyone is sleeping or away. These daily temperature adjustments can add up to sizable savings over time, because a one-degree change for eight hours brings a one-percent drop in annual energy consumption. You should also:

• Set the temperature at 78°F when you're at home and active.

• Increase it to 85°F at night and when the house isn't occupied.

• Don't be afraid to experiment to see if you can save more energy with a higher temperature. Do so incrementally, one or two degrees at a time, to avoid causing discomfort or overtaxing your cooling equipment.

• Never use the override function to make a big temperature adjustment in order to cool down the house faster. The cooling process won't speed up, but you can accidentally cool your home too much and end up wasting energy.

• Run your ceiling fans in tandem with your air conditioner to boost the cooling effect, but only in occupied rooms. With the blades moving counter-clockwise, the fan's air movement cools the skin, which lets you raise the temperature setting by up to four degrees.

For expert help getting your Broken Arrow home ready for the cooling season, contact us at Air Assurance.