Is Your Heating System Winter-Ready?
You cannot overlook your heating system during winter because it’s the system you rely upon to keep your family warm and safe. During this time of the year, a breakdown in your HVAC system is not only inconveniencing but can cause serious discomfort and health problems for your family. Unfortunately, there are a number of things that can go haywire with a central heating system, particularly during freezing temps, when it is needed the most. The good thing is that there are several maintenance checks you can do to ensure the heating system keeps running smoothly throughout winter.
How to Test HVAC System for Winter
No one wants to get left out in the cold. Here are a few steps that you can take to test your heating system for winter:
Check whether your pipes are insulated.
Water pipes running through your home may or may not be insulated. Non-insulated pipes are more likely to burst when they freeze than those that are insulated. Having your pipes covered with foam pipe insulation safeguards them from the issues caused by cold weather. A bursted pipe can easily ruin your boiler. The boiler also struggles to work if the pipe is moist. This is why it is worth the investment to insulate your pipes to ensure that your system makes it through the winter.
Check the jacket on your hot water cylinder.
If your hot water cylinder is not wrapped with an insulation jacket, you need to do so before winter to boost its efficiency. The main advantage of the jacket is that it minimizes the stress on your boiler when temperatures begin to plummet. If you have exterior water tanks, give them the same treatment so that they don’t freeze over.
Clean out your old boiler.
Old HVAC systems can become less efficient because of accumulations and natural buildups over time. For instance, black sludge easily builds up in radiators, resulting in cold spots. HVAC dealers use special flashing pumps that exert high pressure through radiators, removing any accumulation of dirt or sludge to optimize the entire system. This quick treatment will make your whole system more efficient and protect it from potential malfunctions and blockages due to excess buildup of dirt and grime.
Check up on the boiler.
This may sound obvious but it is one of the most critical things to do with your boiler. Check the critical operation points of the boiler to ensure all connections are working properly. A Dayton heating professional can help you check inspect your unit to ensure that everything is ok. This kind of routine maintenance always costs less than repairing a broken system.
Do not turn off the boiler; keep it running.
While it’s okay to turn off your boiler at any time during any other season, winter is a very different story. Turning off the boiler can actually cause pipes to freeze, which is a perfect recipe for disaster. Keeping it running ensures that it doesn’t have to work so hard when you turn it back on. Maintain your system above freezing to avoid this costly pitfall.
Still worried about your heating system for this winter? Contact Butler Heating & Air Conditioning and we will make sure that your family is safe and sound this winter.
