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Montana winters can be dangerous if you don’t take the proper precautions. Heavy snow, freezing temperatures, and ice buildup can all cause issues with your heating system. Failure to winterize your heating system can be detrimental to more than just your HVAC system. You will put your own health at risk when indoor air temperatures drop. To prevent damage to your HVAC system and your health, Comfort Heating & Air Conditioning, LLC can help. We are the local experts in Billings, MT, who can break down how to winterize your heating system. There are several key ways to do this.
Schedule a Professional Tune-Up
Scheduling a tune-up with Comfort Heating & Air Conditioning, LLC is a great place to start in the winterization process. Expert maintenance ensures your system is running at its best during the coldest months of the year. During a tune-up, your system will undergo a full inspection. During this, we can catch little issues before they turn into anything major.
The cold weather can put a lot of stress on your system. A tune-up helps to drastically reduce that extra load that could have otherwise sent your system into failure. With a tune-up comes a cleaning of many system components. One of our heating system cleanings removes things like dust and other debris. When these particles are no longer floating through your air, your heater can heat more evenly. The air will be able to pass through your filters more easily, increasing energy efficiency. An efficient heating system increases reliability, which is essential in frigid weather.
Outdoor Unit Protection in Billings
It is essential to protect your outdoor heating unit from the winter elements. Your heating unit needs to be free of debris. Debris can include anything from grass and leaves to sticks and beyond. It is best practice to keep the area around your condenser unit clear by up to 2 feet. When the leaves and grass are no longer surrounding your unit, airflow will improve.
Condenser unit protection doesn’t end at clearing leaves. An accumulation of snow around and on your condenser unit can cause severe operational issues. To reduce the risk of problems, you should frequently clear the snow from your unit. You also need to ensure the snow isn’t piling up around the unit, which could restrict airflow. A restriction of airflow can lead to your system overheating, short cycling, or even ruining blower motors and compressors. Something as simple as sweeping off and shoveling away snow can prevent these problems.
Sealing Air Leaks and Insulating Pipes
It sounds a little unbelievable when we talk about air leaks and pipes when it comes to winterizing your HVAC system. Surprisingly, this is an excellent way to keep your system from working overtime. When your heating system doesn’t constantly have to run to keep up with the heating demand, there are fewer chances of breakdowns occurring.
Sealing air leaks and insulating pipes helps to winterize your heating system by preventing cold air from entering. On the flip side, it can also prevent warm air in your home from escaping. When your heating system isn’t constantly cycling on and off to keep the home warm, this will lower the HVAC load.
There are several key places to look at when it comes to air leaks. Places like window frames and baseboards can benefit from a caulk-based sealant. Then there are the places that are operational, like doors and windows, which frequently open and close. To seal air leaks in operational areas of your home, weather-stripping is a good choice.
Thermostats and Winterization
Your thermostat also plays a big part in winterization. If you are away for a long time, lower your thermostat’s temperature by several degrees. Lowering the temperature on your thermostat helps conserve energy and keeps your heater from doing unnecessary work. Less work means less wear on your system. By working less often, your HVAC will function better for longer.
Contact Us for Winterization
Comfort Heating & Air Conditioning, LLC is happy to provide winterization tips and services. We are a family-owned business. When you need us, we are available 24/7 for emergency repairs and same-day service. Since 1983, we have been providing first-class heating maintenance, repair, and installation services.
You can trust the team at Comfort Heating & Air Conditioning, LLC with all of your heating winterization needs. Contact us today with your questions or to schedule service!
Today!
