Although Lafayette, Louisiana, doesn’t experience the cold winters that the northern states do – a benefit of living in the southern U.S. – it does get chilly enough to periodically turn on your heating system. To ensure your heating system is working efficiently and effectively, keep these three winter heating tips in mind.
Change Your Furnace Filter Monthly
Even though your heating system doesn’t have to work as hard as it would if it were operating in a home in the northeast, you should still remember to change your furnace filter at least once a month during the winter. When shopping for a furnace filter, make sure the minimum efficiency reporting value number – or MERV – is close to 12 as possible. The higher the number, the better it’ll filter your home’s air.
Here are some other outstanding benefits of changing your furnace’s filter regularly.
- Extend your heating system’s longevity
- Control your energy costs
- Improve your home’s air quality
- Take Advantage of the Sun’s Warmth
During the winter, when the temperatures take a dip and your sweaters come out of the closet, the sun becomes your best friend. Unfortunately, the sun doesn’t hang around as long as it does in the summertime, but that doesn’t mean you can’t take advantage of its warmth when it does come out to play. To allow the sun to naturally heat your home, open the curtains on all of your south-facing windows during the day. At night, close them so that you reduce the chill that the cold windows might emit.
Schedule Routine Heating Maintenance
The best thing you can do to avoid an unexpected heating repair, and to keep up with regular heating maintenance, is to contact a professional HVAC contractor. He or she will ensure all your heating system’s parts are in working order and that you’re prepared for another winter that lies ahead.
For more information about how to maintain your heating system so it doesn’t break down and require a heating repair, check out this blog post or contact us at (337) 232-5337.