There are countless ways to stay warm when the temperature drops, but heaters are one of the most common ones. Unfortunately, a heater doesn’t last forever. But with the proper care and maintenance, you can avoid having to worry about your heater dying out on you for a long time to come. Here are some handy tips that can help you extend the lifespan of your heater.
Installation
It’s important to guarantee that your HVAC system was or will be put in correctly. Consider the size of your home and the size of your unit. The size of your system impacts its lifespan, as well as how much square footage it will be expected to heat. Larger heaters can operate efficiently with less power than smaller units. Whatever the size, you need to make sure the heating load is calculated correctly. Strategically placing a heater somewhere where its influence will be the best felt is a very wise idea.
Filters
This component of your heater stops undesirable particles in the air from reaching your lungs. Dirt, dander, and other contaminants come from both your home and the inside of your heating system, so cleaning out or swapping your system’s filters periodically is a good idea. Too much gunk blocking up your filter can even negatively affect your system’s performance.
Regularly check your system’s filters, keeping a close eye on any accumulated material or dark-looking dander. Replacement filters can be obtained either from your heater’s technician team or from a hardware or big box store near you. Make sure you find the proper size filter for your system.
Maintenance
It goes without saying, but you should be keeping an eye on your heating system throughout the year, not just when it’s acting up or when you need to use it during colder months. Having it serviced regularly is crucial for extending its lifespan as feasibly as possible. Contact a licensed HVAC technician for heating repair so that you’re not working against a learning curve when trying to keep your heater going.
Unless you have prior training or knowledge of heating units, it’s advised to trust professionals with heater maintenance, rather than taking on the task yourself. Heaters house a wide variety of confusing, sensitive, and potentially-dangerous equipment and machinery, and improper tinkering with them could pose fire and safety risks to you and your household. You can handle light maintenance for your system, such as the aforementioned filter replacement, but any heavy maintenance should be left to a heater repair technician.
Thermostat
You don’t want to leave anything to chance when it comes to bringing your home to the right temperature. But that doesn’t mean you can assume your heater is up to the task of turning your house into a sauna every day during the cold months. Keep the thermostat as low as you can be reasonably comfortable with-for most people, that means about 69-72 degrees. When the home is going to be empty for a while, you can drop it a few degrees lower than that to save on fuel and energy costs. This also prevents your system from over-taxing itself, extending its lifespan.
It’s also advisable to not mess with your thermostat too extremely or too often. Try not to crank it up or down too frequently, as doing so can cause stress on the heating system’s internal coils and pipe work. Finding a temperature that’s comfortable for you and your family is paramount to preserving your heater’s lifespan as long as you can.
Above all, it’s important to know that you, as a homeowner, play a part in your heater’s performance. Don’t forget to wear layers in combination with using the heater. Don’t let your system do all the heavy lifting or you’ll feel it in your wallet, as well as in repairs. Keep your home properly sealed and insulated too, or nothing you do to stay warm will work particularly well. Staying active isn’t a bad idea either. As long as you’re taking away as much as you can from your heater, you’ll be helping it stay alive and functional for longer.
Heaters are a modern comfort and necessity. Taking measures to make sure your system is as functional and efficient as possible will not only impact your wallet but also your system’s integrity and longevity.
