The holidays are finally here, bringing with them tidings of comfort and joy — and, for many people, plenty of holiday parties and family gatherings. If you will be doing a lot of entertaining this season, it’s important to prepare your home ahead of time in order to ensure it can serve as the perfect place for all of your festivities and beyond.
We’ve made a list (and checked it twice!) of all the HVAC tips you need to know this season:
Set Your Programmable Thermostat
Programmable thermostats can be an invaluable time-saver during the holiday season when you’re so
busy running from store to store to secure last-minute gifts that you may forget all about your home’s heating needs. Setting your thermostat to a warmer temperature when you know your family will be home, and turning it down when they are not, will help you save on energy costs throughout the season.
In addition, programmable thermostats can be especially beneficial when hosting holiday gatherings. It’s a good idea to set your thermostat for a cooler temperature before your guests arrive, as temperatures can quickly rise with additional people inside.
Test Your Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarms
Be sure to test all of the smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in your home and install a fresh pair of batteries in each unit, especially during the winter months when your furnace is in use. Statistics compiled by the U.S. Fire Administration indicate that one out of three residential fire deaths occurs in homes without working smoke detectors and alarms. You can help minimize the chance of fire hazards from your furnace by keeping the area around your system clear and avoid storing anything near your furnace, especially flammable products or materials.
A carbon monoxide leak is one of the biggest safety threats that a malfunctioning furnace can pose to your home. Consider installing a professional grade low-level Carbon Monoxide (CO) monitor. It will let you know there’s a problem before reaching dangerous, even deadly CO levels, long before the other
detectors even begin to work.
Schedule Your HVAC Winter Maintenance
Although it is preferable to get your HVAC system checked by a technician before you switch your system to heat, if you haven’t already scheduled a maintenance check-up this season, an impending holiday gathering is a perfect reason for doing so.
The team of licensed and skilled technicians at Arlinghaus Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning can perform a full maintenance check to ensure that your system is operating efficiently, keeping your house happy — and your family warm and safe — all season long. Contact us to book an appointment before your next holiday party!