Whatever the season, you want the temperature of your home to be comfortable. Because Texas is known for its’ hot summers, sometimes those cold winter days can get forgotten about until the temperatures plummet and you’re left huddled around a space heater trying to keep warm. East Texas can get quite chilly, especially in areas of higher elevation.
As a trusted local AC and heating company in Tyler, Texas, ETR has seen how hard it can be on families and individuals dealing with last-minute winter heating solutions.
Don’t be caught out with a home heating emergency—start planning now for how you’ll heat your home and contact your local East Texas AC repair company and schedule HVAC system maintenance, a furnace check-up, ductwork cleaning, or consultation with an experienced HVAC technician for whether a natural gas or furnace heating system would be best to heat your home.
Here’s a brief list to help you get started figuring out what’s needed for your home:
How’s your Home’s Insulation?
We’re here to tell you—proper insulation makes a big difference in both the heating and cooling of your home. Good insulation keeps the cool air in and the hot air out during the warm months and does the opposite when the weather turns cold. Insulation is critical to helping keep your home at a consistent temperature.
Do you know if your home has insulation? Was it installed recently, or has it been a long time since the insulation was put in? Do you notice cold drafts during the winter?
If you want to properly heat and cool your home, as well as save money, investing in efficient insulation will make a big difference. Making sure your home is properly insulated will cost money at the outset but can save you a lot in utility costs down the line, as your home will be heating and cooling much more efficiently.
HVAC System Maintenance
If you already have an HVAC system installed, a key component to keeping it in top working order and ready for those chilly winter days is regular furnace and heater maintenance.
Making sure you’ve scheduled regular maintenance checkups with your Texas HVAC technicians means you don’t have to worry about your system not working properly when you turn your heat on for the first time of the season. You’ll already have peace of mind knowing your furnace or natural gas heating system is clean, and ready to go.
Did you recently purchase your home? Do you know how old your heating system is? How efficiently did your heating system work last season? Did you notice your utility bills were especially high during the colder months?
For many reasons, it’s important to know for sure that your heating system is not only working efficiently, but up to date. For the most part, older heating systems don’t work as efficiently as newer heating units. They might also be really expensive to run. In addition, they might not be as sustainable.
Schedule an HVAC system check with your local HVAC company and get an expert opinion on whether your heating system needs updating.
While a new heating unit will cost money for purchase and installation, a system that works more efficiently will immediately save you money in utility costs. Especially if it’s a cold winter, those savings can add up to quite a lot.
If it’s determined that you need a new HVAC unit, you can then have the reassurance that your house will be warm in winter and cool in summer. It’s about more than being comfortable in your home—it can also be about safety. Especially if you have a baby or elderly family members living with you, or if you’re an elderly individual living on your own.
In extreme weather, knowing your HVAC unit will work properly becomes about more than comfort—it’s about safety.
If you’re not sure if you need a new unit or not, it’s time to contact your local HVAC company and let the experts help you decide.
Programmable Thermostat
You can use your programmable thermostat to set and keep consistent both the temperature of your home, and the cost of heating and cooling your home.
If you keep your programmable thermostat set 68-72 degrees when you’re home, and slightly lower when you’re away, and/or at night, you’ll both keep your home a consistent temperature, and save money on utility bills.
We know a home’s nighttime temperatures can be an individual preference and cause household battles between those who prefer a warm house or cooler house at night. The programmable thermostat can help keep the temperature regulated for everyone.
Carbon Monoxide Safety
As winter approaches and households rely on heating systems to stay warm, it’s crucial to prioritize carbon monoxide safety. Ensuring that your heating equipment, such as furnaces and boilers, is well-maintained and regularly inspected is key to preventing potential carbon monoxide leaks.
Install carbon monoxide detectors in strategic locations throughout your home, especially near sleeping areas, to provide an early warning in case of any issues.
Never use gas-powered appliances, like gas-powered generators or grills, indoors, and be cautious when using space heaters. Educating yourself and your family about the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning and taking proactive steps to safeguard your home can go a long way in ensuring a safe and cozy winter season.
Use the Texas Sun to Keep Your House Warm
One great way to help keep your house warm during the day and save money on utility costs is to use the natural resource at your disposal: sunlight.
Keep sun-facing curtains open during the day and the sunlight will help naturally warm your home. In the evening, close the curtains to help keep out any cold air that might be seeping in around your doors or windows.
Keeping your home a comfortable temperature in the winter might mean some heater maintenance, or even a new HVAC unit altogether, but it’s worth it. As some readers know, a cold home can be miserable, and even be a safety issue.
Contact your local Texas HVAC experts today and get your home and heating system winter ready.