Now that Thanksgiving is over, most people turn their focus to December and the upcoming holiday season. This is a time when many people take a winter trip or a vacation. Royal Heating & Air knows that this time of year is great, but for some, it can also be a time when disaster strikes. Whether it’s a weather-related disaster, home break-in or your furnace goes out, it’s important to be as prepared as possible. The best HVAC company at the Lake of the Ozarks has some tips to help keep your HVAC system and your home safe while you’re away.
Ensure Your Heating System is Working Properly
If you haven’t scheduled your annual fall furnace maintenance this fall or winter, it’s important to schedule an appointment before you leave for your trip. If you have already completed your fall tune-up, you should check that your furnace or heating system is working properly. You can do this by checking the furnace pilot light, the air filter, thermostat, and any other items to make sure they are in proper working condition. Checking your furnace or heating system before you leave will help give you peace of mind while you’re away.
There should be a minimum 3-foot clearance around your indoor air handling unit. Make sure that anything that is flammable, or that can burn, is far away from the unit. Clear away your storage and any other items from around the HVAC system.
Clean Area Around Indoor Air Handling Unit
There should be a minimum 3-foot clearance around your indoor air handling unit. Make sure that anything that is flammable, or that can burn, is far away from the unit. Clear away your storage and any other items from around the HVAC system.
Don’t Turn Your HVAC System Off
High or low humidity mixed with hot or cold air can cause problems within your home. When you go on vacation, don’t turn the HVAC system off, just lower the thermostat to a more reasonable temperature. If you have certain possessions like art, furniture, and other sensitive items, you should keep your HVAC system set no lower than 55 degrees to help protect these items. It’s a good idea to set your thermostat around 5 to 10 degrees lower than normal while you are on vacation.
Replace Air Filter
You should clean or replace the air filter before you leave for your vacation. Your HVAC system will still come on (periodically) to keep the temperature and humidity levels from damaging your home and possessions. Because of this, you’ll want to make sure that your air filter will last the whole time you are gone.
Set Water Heater to “Vacation Mode”
The last thing you want to do is to keep a huge tank of hot water sitting while nobody is home to use it. You should turn off the water heater, set it to “vacation”, or if you have the traditional tank you can lower the temperature.
This is just the beginning of our list when it comes to preparing your home and HVAC system for your winter vacation. Next week, Royal Heating & Air will finish the list so your home will be fully prepared. If you haven’t scheduled your fall furnace maintenance, give the best HVAC company at the Lake of the Ozarks a call!
Royal Heating & Air - "The King of Comfort"
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