With the weather cooling and Thanksgiving just around the corner, it’s time to make some preparations to get your home (and your energy bill) ready for your guests!
If you are hosting family for the holidays, you’ll want to clean your house from top to bottom before they arrive, but did you know that there are some things that you can do to get your HVAC ready for company too?
If you turn on your heating and notice that your AC or furnace is broken or is giving off a burning smell, don’t let it ruin your holiday. Call us and we will get you and your guests back to comfort ASAP, even during the hustle and bustle of the holidays!
Until then, here are some tips from our experts at Integrity Home Solutions to help you save the most energy this holiday season and keep your HVAC system running efficiently. Get ready for Thanksgiving with these HVAC tips!
Tip #1. Get Out the Dust Pan
One of the best ways to keep your HVAC clean and clear before the holiday season is to simply dust your home. The more you clean and dust, the fewer dust particles can travel through your home’s ductwork and spread throughout your home.
The best way to dust is to simply grab an old towel, lightly wet it, and run it over any exposed surfaces. Dust will be trapped in the towel and all you will need to do when you are done is throw it in the washing machine.
Pro Tip: Pay special attention to vents and the air returns in your home for the ultimate clean!
Tip #2. Change Your Air Filter
Though it seems simple enough, this is a tip that is often overlooked. Changing your air filter is one of the simplest HVAC maintenance tasks that you can do, and is the easiest way to avoid emergency breakdowns, high energy bills, and poor air quality.
Avoid issues and take your used filter to the hardware store to ensure that you have the correct one. While you’re there, pick up a few for the winter season ahead as air filters should be changed every 30-60 days.
MORE > 3 Reasons to Regularly Change Your Air Filter
Tip #3. Turn Down the Thermostat
If you are hosting Thanksgiving at your house, you are guaranteed to have your oven on for extended periods, cooking all the delicious food and desserts. Because your oven will be on so much, it will be heating up your home, so if you have the furnace on to keep the chill at bay, feel free to turn your furnace down a few degrees since your oven is making up for the extra heat needed!
The same goes for warmer climates, instead of running your AC nonstop while people are gathered in your home and the food is cooking, turn on some fans to get the air circulating, and turn the thermostat up a few degrees to help save some energy.
Tip #4. Invest in an Air Filtration System
As we gather with our loved ones to celebrate Thanksgiving, it’s important to remember that this holiday also marks the beginning of the holiday season and wintertime flu season. With more people traveling and gathering indoors, the risk of airborne illnesses increases. This is where installing an air scrubber can make a huge difference.
An air scrubber is a device that helps improve indoor air quality by removing harmful particles from the air. It works by sucking in the surrounding air and passing it through a series of filters that trap pollutants such as dust, pet dander, and bacteria. The result is cleaner and healthier air for you and your family to breathe.
At Integrity Home Solutions, we offer many options to improve the air quality in your home including duct cleaning, air quality assessments, dehumidifiers, air filtration systems, and more!
Tip #5. Make a Preventative Maintenance Appointment
If you are already a member of our maintenance plan, you’ve likely already gotten your seasonal HVAC maintenance performed, but if you haven’t, Fall is a great time to get your system inspected and maintained.
Professional maintenance is important to keep up with, and if you have skipped it this year, you may find that your system is working harder than it needs to and your utility bills may be higher as a result. It’s easy! Schedule maintenance with Integrity Home Solutions today!
Holiday HVAC Emergency? You Know Who to Call
Our team at Integrity Home Solutions wants to wish you and your family a Happy Thanksgiving and a wonderful holiday season! We hope our list of HVAC tips will help you save some energy and keep your HVAC system running smoothly during the holidays; but if you have any problems, call our team anytime day or night— (813) 473-6007! You can trust the Integrity team to be right there.
