Winter in Oregon is nothing to joke about, and in order to stay comfortable all winter long, you need to learn to take care of your heating equipment. Although it seems like you would have to be an expert in order to properly maintain these systems, there is preventative maintenance that can be done every three months or so that will help to prolong the life of the system.
Setting and Maintaining the Thermostat
One way to save wear and tear on your heating and air conditioning systems is to make sure that the thermostat is adjusted properly. This is something that homeowners tend to forget. First, if the thermostat is programmable, you need to make sure that it is set at the appropriate temperature according to the time of day.
If you are not at home during eight or more hours each day, or if you’re sleeping, the thermostat should be set five or more degrees lower (it is opposite in summer) than what is a comfortable room temperature. This will save on power bills as well as allow the unit to ‘rest’ when there is no one at home.
Another aspect of preventative maintenance for thermostats is to change the batteries every six months or so. When the batteries wear out, the thermostat may turn the unit on or leave it on when it is not required to be running, thus causing more wear and tear than is necessary on the system.
Other Preventative Maintenance
Besides the thermostat, there are other areas that you can check. Go outside to take a look at the unit to see if there are any loose wires, rust, or clogged drainage pipes. By doing so, you can prevent damage and extend the life of the system.
Of course, regular professional preventative maintenance is essential to keeping your heating equipment running efficiently. Contact us for more information about planned maintenance for your heating equipment.
