5 Important Tips to Prepare Your Heating System for a Snowstorm

By James K. Kim

With winter and unpredictable snow forecasts looming for Westchester County, it’s a smart idea to prepare your home’s heating system now to avoid an unpleasant surprise later. 

Similar to a vehicle, a home’s central heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system requires regular heating maintenance in Westchester, NY, and service to ensure it is operating safely in tip-top shape when you need it most. 

Why wait until an accumulating snow event to find out your heat is not working? 

Avoid that dreaded feeling of setting your thermostat to HEAT and not feeling anything. 

Now is the time to ensure your heating system is in safe proper working condition to keep you and your loved ones warm and prevent your home, appliances, and piping from freezing. 

Follow these five important tips while the weather is relatively calm and clear (for now) to prepare your heating system for a snowstorm. 

1. Schedule Your Winter Heating Maintenance With Your Trusted HVAC Company

It’s hard to predict whether an aged home heating system will successfully survive another winter season. 

That’s why it’s recommended to have your home’s HVAC system checked seasonally (such as before the heating season and before the air conditioning season) to ensure everything is in good working order before you put it to work in earnest keeping your home comfortable. 

A knowledgeable HVAC maintenance technician will run your heating system through a checklist of items to determine if your system will need a repair or if it is aged beyond fixing and requires an entire system replacement. 

While it may be irksome to bear the cost of replacing a heating system with a brand new one, at least you can enjoy peace of mind having a new essential piece of equipment for your home with a new warranty that will heat your home as needed all winter long.  

2. Clear Any Obstructions Around Your Indoor and Outdoor HVAC Equipment

In a nutshell, all HVAC systems require air to be taken to produce conditioned air. 

If an object is blocking this process, then the heating system cannot perform properly resulting in either reduced heating output…or possibly none at all (probably on the coldest day of the year, to boot). 

This unpleasant scenario is easily avoidable by simply keeping all objects well away from the indoor heating equipment components, such as the furnace, boiler, fan coil, mini split, baseboard heating, radiator, supply/return registers, etc.

If you have a heat pump system for your HVAC, then you may have one or more outside heat pump units that run during heating operation. 

It’s vitally important to keep objects away from the heat pump because in the event of a snowstorm, the accumulating snow may rise and potentially cover the unit, preventing it from heating properly. 

Keep an eye on the heat pump when large amounts of snow is expected to fall to ensure no clogs occur that will prevent the heat pump from doing its job. 

3. Regularly Inspect and Replace Your Heating System Filters

Suppose your home’s heating system pushes heated air through ductwork in your walls and ceilings. In that case, it is likely your heating equipment utilizes a filter to help keep its components (and ultimately your entire home as well) clean and free of dust and debris. 

As a primary line of defense for your heating system, these filters can be prone to clogs and buildup from particles. 

That’s why it is a good idea to regularly inspect, clean (if the filters are re-useable), and replace them as needed to ensure proper heating operation during the coldest months of the year. 

4. Inspect Your Home’s Insulation 

You can have the latest and greatest heating system for your home with all the bells and whistles, but it can all be for not if your home cannot keep the heated air in and outside cold air out. 

Leaky insulation or lack of insulation means your heating system must work harder for less results, increasing your utility costs, negatively affecting your indoor climate comfort, and decreasing the operational life expectancy of your heating equipment. 

Proper insulation and addressing leaking infiltration points around windows, doors, cracks, and other openings can help restore your heating system back to its optimal operating efficiency while lowering your energy bill. 

Plus, if your home retains much of its heat, then you will not need to run the system as much and help extend its operating life expectancy. 

5. If Your Area is Prone to Blackouts, Consider a Generator 

A backup power generator may be a worthwhile investment if your home is prone to losing power during storms. 

It’s important to note that some heating systems, such as cold climate air source heat pumps, may require more power than what a typical generator can produce, however, it still may be a useful piece of equipment for your home in a worst-case scenario.

Trust Cottam Heating & Air Conditioning for Your Heating Maintenance Services

Following these steps to have your heating system ready and prepared for anything this winter can help prevent a costly or dangerous scenario that could’ve been avoided. 

When you trust your home’s HVAC system to a trusted heating and air conditioning company, you will have peace of mind that your home’s heating equipment will help keep you and your family warm and cozy all winter long. 

Don’t be caught in the cold. Call Cottam Heating and Air Conditioning or book online to schedule your heating maintenance appointment now.