Winter is here and homes across the Boston area are starting to crank up the heat to stay warm. Before you snuggle up under a warm blanket though, it’s important to make sure your home’s HVAC system is operating efficiently. A properly maintained HVAC system will help keep you warm and also keeps monthly energy bills down during the winter. Here are some tips on how to maintain your HVAC system.

Replace Air Filters

The air filters in your HVAC system play an essential role in maintaining the air quality in your home. They filter out dirt, dust, and other contaminants to prevent them from circulating throughout your home. After enough use, however, these filters will get clogged which will reduce how effective they are. It’s important to clean or replace your air filters to ensure they’re working as they should before winter begins and your heating system is in full operation.

Check for Leaky Ducts

Leaks in your HVAC system’s ducts can cause a significant amount of energy loss and should be sealed up as quickly as possible. Checking all ducts for leaks and patching up with duct tape or mastic sealant is a one way to temporarily resolve the issue. You can also insulate your ducts to further prevent heat loss and boost your HVAC system’s efficiency even more.

Schedule HVAC Maintenance with a Professional

While some of these tune-ups can be handled as DIY tasks when you have free time over the weekend or some other time, it’s best to call a Professional Boston Area Plumbing Service to get yearly HVAC system maintenance before the cold hits. Yearly maintenance will ensure a trained HVAC technician has identified and fixed any issues with your system before they become costly repairs. A professional service can also clean your system so it will be running as efficiently as possible.

What To Do During an HVAC Emergency

If your HVAC system suddenly fails during the colder weather, it can make your home unsafe and having a plan for an HVAC emergency can make a big difference. First it’s important to check for gas leaks and leave immediately if you find anything/smell gas in the air. After you confirm the area is safe you should shut down the system before checking the thermostat, breaker, and other components that could be causing issues. For issues beyond simple fixes, it’s best to call an Emergency Plumbing Service like Young Buck Plumbing & Heating to get a local pro to get your heating system working properly.