The cold season can affect how well your HVAC system functions. When ice and snow surround your system, it may freeze and prompt an emergency shutdown. Consequently, the heat to your house will be cut off, and the water pipes may be in trouble. Excess snow can obstruct your furnace exhaust, keeping your unit from functioning.

During winter, melting snow can leak water into your HVAC system, causing rust and corrosion build-up. With the right tricks, you can optimize your AC unit during winter, increasing your home’s comfort and reducing stress. Discussed below are seven ways to optimize your HVAC system this winter.

1. Schedule professional HVAC maintenance

    Professional HVAC maintenance is one of the most effective ways to optimize your system this winter. Routine HVAC maintenance helps:

    • Avoid breakdowns: Routine HVAC maintenance during winter ensures your unit doesn’t break down unexpectedly when you need it the most. Freezing temperatures can strain your heating and cooling system, resulting in unit failure or malfunctions if not adequately maintained. Scheduling regular maintenance with trusted AC experts, such as HVAC company Memphis, allows you to identify and resolve potential problems before they escalate
    • Boost comfort: Routine HVAC maintenance keeps your space comfortable throughout the cold season by offering warmth consistently without interruptions. A properly-maintained heating and cooling unit ensures heat is evenly distributed across all spaces in your house while maintaining maximum indoor air quality
    • Enhance energy efficiency: Adequately maintained HVAC systems run more efficiently, lowering energy consumption and utility bills. Tuning up and cleaning your AC unit prevents the risk of clogged ducts, worn-out components, and dirty filters, ensuring your system operates at peak performance and cuts heating costs

    2. Insulate your home

      Insulating your home not only keeps your space warm during winter but also optimizes your HVAC’s efficiency. Insufficient insulation lowers your HVAC system’s efficiency. The lack of proper insulation results in the following issues:

      • Conditioned air escaping through floors, walls, and attics, forcing your unit to work harder to maintain desired indoor temperatures. This leads to high energy consumption energy and utility bills
      • Cold spots in your house, resulting in temperature variations, which cause uneven heating.
      • Your HVAC unit overworking itself, increasing component wear and tear. This leads to regular breakdowns, repairs, and decreased lifespan

      To optimize your heating and cooling system, consider insulating the following places:

      • Attic: Attic insulation ensures hot air doesn’t rise and escape during the cold season
      • Walls: Ensure exterior walls are adequately insulated to minimize heat transfer
      • Duct: Ductwork insulation reduces air loss as it moves through unconditioned areas. Insulated ducts eliminate energy waste
      • Floors: Insulating the floors above garages and other unconditioned spaces prevents heat loss

      3. Keep your HVAC unit protected from snow and ice

        Harsh winter elements can be hard on your outdoor unit. Reasons to protect your HVAC’s outdoor unit this winter include:

        • Ice build-up: Ice build-up can damage your outdoor AC system. As snow melts and freezes, chilly temperatures result in ice blocks forming gutters and roofs. Falling ice can damage your unit’s exterior and the lines linked to your system. In addition, ice build-up can cause internal damage to the unit outside. If ice and snow are ignored, they cause the system’s components to freeze
        • Ice and snow limit airflow: The accumulation of ice and snow blocks airflow, preventing your AC unit from running efficiently. This means your house won’t have sufficient air supply to stay warm

        Covering your HVAC system during winter storms reduces the risk of damage. Consider clearing the snow around your outdoor unit to prevent ice and snow build-up.

        4. Adjust your thermostat settings

          Adjusting your thermostat settings per your preferences and needs is one of the simplest ways to optimize your HVAC unit this winter. The perfect thermostat setting during the cold season is 68 degrees Fahrenheit when you’re awake. However, you can reduce it when you’re away or awake. Lowering your thermostat settings during winter not only saves energy but also ensures your HVAC system doesn’t overwork.

          Changing the settings to heat only can help ensure your thermostat doesn’t turn on the HVAC system on random warm days. With the help of a smart or programmable thermostat, you can adjust the temperature automatically based on occupancy, time of the day, and weather conditions, preventing unnecessary heating.

          5. Clean and Change the Air Filters Regularly

            Air filters are crucial for the proper functioning of your HVAC system. Debris build-up in air filters inhibits airflow throughout your HVAC unit, forcing the furnaces to work longer and harder to draw in air, heat it, and then distribute it. The additional effort can result in overheating, short cycling, fires, and failure. In winter, you may struggle with an excessively dry indoor space. Operating forced air heaters drains air moisture, lowering indoor air quality and causing dry skin, headaches, and other unpleasant symptoms.

            Cleaning your air filters regularly can help streamline airflow, optimizing your HVAC system. Since your heating and cooling unit works constantly to keep your home comfortable during winter, the air filters will likely experience wear and tear. Replacing the air filters can keep your unit functioning optimally, ensuring your home stays warm in winter.

            6. Keep the Condenser Unit Clear

              While condenser fins enable your HVAC system to dissipate heat, they gather debris, such as pollen, dust, and grass, throughout the warm weather. Cleaning the condenser unit in winter optimizes your system’s efficiency. To avoid buildup during winter, clear any leaf piles, vegetation, and other things that may be blown into the HVAC system from the strong winter winds. Clear the area around the condenser unit by at least two feet. Check any trees or tall bushes close by and cut the branches that might fall and damage your AC unit.

              7. Replace your HVAC system

                If your current HVAC unit is old and inefficient, it will struggle to keep your house warm in winter. Replacing your unit during the cold season ensures your system operates efficiently throughout winter. An HVAC replacement provides better heating and comfort, which is crucial when spending winters indoors. Additionally, a new HVAC installation is usually more energy-efficient, lowering winter energy bills promptly.

                Endnote

                A fully functional HVAC unit is essential for your home’s comfort, energy savings, and reduced utility bills. Scheduling professional maintenance, insulating your home, keeping your unit protected from ice and snow build-up, adjusting thermostat settings, cleaning and changing air filters regularly, keeping the condenser unit clear, and replacing your HVAC system can help optimize it for winter.

                In Case You Missed It!