3 Quick Heating Tips for Furnace or Heat Pump Owners
Those of us who live in the Valley of the Sun often tell people we live in “Phoenix” when they ask where we are from because nobody ever knows where you’re talking about if you say Chandler, Tempe, or Mesa for example. Another local city people seem to notice in recent years is Scottsdale. It seems like you can’t watch TV without hearing it mentioned on a sitcom nowadays. I even saw a whole episode about Scottsdale on The Simpson’s recently!
Scottsdale, AZ has become a famous spot for winter vacationing for some excellent reasons: The main reason being, our mild winter weather is just what people from the colder parts of the country are looking for at this time of year. But those of us who are year-round residents understand that it isn’t always pleasantly warm like everyone seems to think. The temperatures at night often drop down into the 40’s and occasionally even drop below freezing—and that means we cover our plants and our heating systems run regularly.
If you’re considering a new heating system installation in Scottsdale, AZ this winter, contact our team and we’ll help find the right system for you and your family!
Gas furnaces and electric heat pumps are the two most common types of heating systems here in the Phoenix, AZ area, and we have three quick tips for you to help assure your furnace or heat pump works at its best through the heating season. Following these tips can help reduce the chance of malfunctions, a breakdown, and inefficient performance leading to higher utility bills this winter.
ONE: Change the filter regularly
This is a point we, like every other heating company, bring up quite often because; a) it’s that important, and b) it’s something easy and inexpensive most homeowners can do themselves. If you allow the filter in your furnace to clog up with dust, lint, pet dander, etc., it will choke off airflow. A lack of airflow across the coil in a heat pump, or heat-exchanger in a furnace causes numerous problems, starting with the heating unit having to work harder and costing more to run. The drop in airflow will also mean less heated air getting to the rooms, and it can even allow debris to pass around the furnace filter and into the furnace itself. We’ve already listed out the steps for changing a filter, so follow those steps and your furnace or heat pump will be in much better shape.
Some heating systems are equipped with safety devices that will actually shut the unit off and not allow it to operate when it senses a lack of airflow. This device is meant to hopefully prevent catastrophic failure.
Maintenance takes care of changing the filter at the beginning of the year. Have you signed up for our heating maintenance in Mesa, AZ yet? It’s the best way to prep any furnace for the season.
TWO: Keep room vents clear (and don’t close them)
The vents (also known as air registers) into the rooms that deliver the heated air from the furnace or heat pump need to be unobstructed. This not only allows the room the warm up properly, it prevents extra stress on the furnace, when the system can’t “breathe”, in the HVAC business we refer to how easily air can flow as “static pressure”. Having the proper static pressure is so important that the manufacturers installation instructions require it not to exceed a certain point. Check to see that no furniture or Holiday decorations have been moved and could be accidentally blocking vents.
Another thing to know is that you shouldn’t close off the vents yourself by closing off the dampers behind the grill. This doesn’t help save energy, as some people think, but it will increase pressure in the HVAC system, which can be damaging.
THREE: Have the air ducts sealed
You may not know it, but your ductwork might be filled with small air holes and gaps, usually where they are connected to each other or to the unit itself. One by itself wouldn’t be that big a deal but typically these gaps are at many connections and add up to one very big hole. This leads to energy waste, and will cause your furnace to work even harder to try to make up for the heat loss of the air escaping through the leaks into your attic and wall chases. On top of that these holes can be in the return duct work as well (the ductwork that delivers air back to the furnace or heat pump) which means they also suck in dirty attic air and can seriously reduce the indoor air quality in your home. If you haven’t had your ducts checked by a BPI Certified Energy Auditor, call on our ductwork professionals for the duct repair in Scottsdale, Phoenix, or Gilbert, AZ that will make your HVAC system operate at its best—not only for winter but for the seasons ahead.
Call us today to experience our award-winning customer service first-hand. We look forward to exceeding your expectations! Magic Touch Mechanical serves Scottsdale, AZ and throughout the Phoenix Area.