6 HVAC safety tips for Christmas Season
The holidays are times to celebrate with family and spend quality time with dear ones. However, it is important to keep an eye out for any potential hazards back home. By following certain guidelines, it is easy to keep everyone safe and comfortable while you’re quietly celebrating or entertaining a house full of guests. During such times, most people rarely consider their HVAC systems. While you’re busy making your living space festive, keep in mind that your HVAC system is an important home appliance that deserves your attention as well. This Christmas, here are Top 6 HVAC safety tips that will keep you and your loved ones secure and comfortable throughout the festive period.
Here are the 6 HVAC safety tips for Christmas Season
1. Keep Flammable Objects In Safe Locations
Many of the holiday decorations are made of paper, fabric and other flammable materials. The Christmas tree may look nice with them, but furnaces and radiators can cause serious fire hazards with these small decoratives. Keeping these flammable objects away from any heat-generating appliances such as an electric blanket, space heater, radiator, and others will help in wiping out any chances of having fire hazards. An alarming number of house fires have been reported each year as a result of flammable objects becoming entangled in heating vents or as a result of a Christmas tree being placed too close to a furnace.
2. Unwrap The Thermostat
A covered thermostat will be unable to function properly and may cause the HVAC unit to malfunction. It’s better to sacrifice some visual cheer by keeping your thermostat clear of obstructions during the holiday season in order to ensure safety and HVAC security. The more you conceal your thermostat, the more difficult it gets for the device to detect the temperature in your home. While it may be tempting to cover the thermostat with decorations, this will only result in a colder home and higher utility bills. Simply shine it alongside your Christmas decorations.
3. Check And Replace The Air Filter
Filters that are smudged and clogged can hinder airflow, increase energy costs, and even lead to a system failure. Replace your air filter this holiday season to improve indoor air quality as well as to keep your pockets healthy. Improve the quality of your indoor air for your friends and family, especially those who are allergic or suffer from asthmatic conditions. Let them breathe safely and smoothly. Mold, mites, pet dander, and viruses can linger in the air in your living space because an unattended air filter cannot effectively remove pollutants from your home. Furthermore, an uncleaned air filter restricts airflow into and out of your home, putting strain on your entire system to maintain desired temperatures. This makes your HVAC system compromise on its maximum utility.
4. Examine The Outside Unit
Dirt, twigs, and other debris can enter your outdoor unit. Such noxious elements can harm your HVAC system and impair its performance. That is why it is always a good idea to inspect your system components, such as the condenser, to ensure that they are clean. This can save you a lot of time and money in case of an emergency during the holiday season. Even though it is designed to withstand harsh weather conditions, it still requires proper care and maintenance to function properly. Examine your unit’s components for icing and clear away any debris that has accumulated around it.
5. Evaluate Your Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Carbon monoxide is a naturally occurring gas that is produced as a byproduct of gas furnaces. Carbon monoxide can accumulate in vents that are old or clogged. This has the potential to be fatal. Always ensure that your CO detectors are operational. This can save you a lot of time and money if you have an emergency during the holiday season.
6. Book Your HVAC Inspection
Christmas joy has arrived! Don’t let a broken HVAC system ruin this special time with your family and friends. Although it is ideal to perform HVAC maintenance in the late summer or early fall before the winter. But better late than never! Scheduling a maintenance check-up before the busy Christmas holiday season begins can save you money and give you the peace of mind that your HVAC system is operating at peak efficiency throughout the winter. Minute problems caused by incorrect decoration placement can sometimes go unnoticed until the system unexpectedly fails in the middle of Christmas Eve. Have a professional HVAC specialist inspect your unit to ensure it is in good working order.
What can HVAC companies do to handle the busy Christmas season?
One of the most difficult tasks for HVAC business owners during the busy Christmas season is keeping track of their workforce. Several business owners have lost customers as a result of miscommunication and poor service. If you own an HVAC company, you know how frightening it is to lose a customer. Therefore, to reduce the chance of losing it, HVAC business owners should use field management software like TykVen. Such field service management software solutions reduce workload and assist in better managing daily operations.