Los Angeles California – Happy New Year Los Angeles. Southern Californians rung in 2015 with a cold snap the likes we have not seen in 60 plus years. In fact there were record low temperatures during the annual Rose Parade this morning after a winter storm blanketed the region with snow and frost in the last few days of 2014.
So the year started with a definitive “frosty bite”, but according to Channel 4 NBC weather forecaster Crystal Egger “if you think it’s cold now, just wait until we clear out and that cold air really settles in”. The record low for the Rose Parade in Pasadena was 32 degrees, back in 1952. This year Pasadena was under a freeze warning between 1 a.m. and 9 a.m., indicating temps were between 29 and 32 degrees.
Yes, ordinarily immune from the Polar Vortex-like weather hitting the rest of the continental U.S. during the winter months, LA has not been spared this time around. 2015 promises to be a winter where we are going to have to really break out our sweaters, coats, hats and mittens and get ready to crank up the furnace to keep our homes warm and comfortable.
The question is, have all Los Angeles area homeowners ensured that their furnaces have been properly maintained in order to run efficiently all winter? Probably not.
All furnaces and central heating systems, even energy efficient ones, need to be checked on a regular basis and must be properly maintained to ensure they function when they are needed the most. Around the Clock Heating and Air Conditioning, has some meaningful energy savings and maintenance tips everyone might want to follow.
The most important thing to remember is that your furnace or heating system should be checked by an HVAC professional at least once a year. If you have not yet done this for the 2014/2015 Winter season, the time is NOW, before it gets even colder…
A professional maintenance service call, typically recommended in the fall or winter, will ensure that your heating/comfort system is running at an optimal level, because if it runs as it was designed, it will run less often, thus using less energy. It will also heat much more efficiently.
During a preventative seasonal inspection, a pro HVAC service company should also replace the filter, adjust the belts and lubricate the motor. “While we encourage all our Around the Clock Heating and Air Conditioning clients to have their furnaces professionally serviced once a year, there are other things you can do on your own to ensure that your furnace is running properly.”
- Change your filters regularly. This is easy and inexpensive to do. I recommend checking your filter once a month and plan to change your filter at least once every three months.
- Make sure the vents in your home are not obstructed by any objects such as carpets, furniture, drapery, etc. These could NOT ONLY create a potential fire hazard, but will obstruct the proper circulation of warm air. Also be sure there is nothing flammable near your vents or furnace.
- Check around doors, windows and any other openings to the outside for any places where air could possibly be leaking out.
- Lower the thermostat when you are not home, or consider installing a programmable thermostat.
It mast seem like a small thing, but changing regularly the filter is a critical component to heating your home, as well as to saving you money. Clogs will impede the airflow, making your furnace works harder, therefore making it more expensive to run. This is a known fact.
Other tips I recommend include:
- Use a vacuum cleaner with an extension hose to clean the inside of the furnace to remove any debris, dust a soot build up. Pay particular attention to the base of the heater and burners.
- All relatively modern furnaces should have a safety switch (electrical contact) on the door. It will pop out (or release) when the door is removed. Be sure this switch is unobstructed. You DO NOT WANT the system powered when cleaning.
- Check all wiring (visible to your eye) and other electrical connections for burn marks or unraveling.
- When closing up your furnace, be sure the area around it is clean and free of clutter to prevent fires.
- Install a carbon monoxide detector. Carbon monoxide is colorless, tasteless, odorless and MOST OF ALL deadly at high levels.
- Check your thermostat for the first several times you turn on your heater. If the furnace is running but the temperature gauge doesn’t change, you may need a new thermostat.
- If you can’t remember when your last professional maintenance was performed, it a sign that it’s TIME. Call your local heating repair company before you discover you have a non functioning or inefficient operating comfort system. With proper attention and maintenance, your furnace will keep you and your family “toasty” throughout the uncharacteristically Southern California winter months ahead.