So far this year, it’s been a fairly mild heating season. But as of this past weekend, extreme cold has finally arrived in Central Ohio. Our furnaces and heating systems haven’t really been challenged yet, but the cold that we’re experiencing now can really put it to the test. As a homeowner, you’ll want to avoid any real issues when your furnace is really needed. This short list will help you achieve that goal and be ready for extreme cold.
Help Your Furnace Deal with Extreme Cold Weather
Air Filter We can’t stress the importance of keeping the filter on your heating system clean. If your furnace is already working overtime to heat your home in extremely low temperatures, you don’t need to make it work harder by trying to breathe through a dirty or clogged filter. It’s a relatively inexpensive option; keep that filter changed and fresh.
Proper Thermostat Regulation We would normally recommend lowering your thermostat when you’re not at home, or at night, to conserve energy. During extreme low temperatures, however, you may want to leave it set to a normal comfortable temperature. When it’s extra cold outside, the furnace will have to work extra hard to get back to a normal temperature if you lower the thermostat for a time. Better to keep your thermostat set at a consistent setting until the temperatures warm back up a bit and make it work a little less hard.
Live with Cold Indoor Temperatures The goal of a furnace is to maintain a comfortable indoor temperature. In technical terms, the furnace must maintain a differential between outdoor and indoor temperatures. During extremely low outdoor temperatures, some heating systems make not be able to get the home all the way back to the desired temperature. Other factors may be the amount of insulation in your home, whether or not you have drafty windows, and the age of the furnace. Simply cranking up the thermostat may not make a difference; the furnace just doesn’t have to ability to catch up. Your best bet is to wear warmer clothing; try to open doors as little as possible; use a safe, UL-approved space heater; add weather-stripping and/or cover windows with shrink wrap plastic kits.
Keep Vents Clear In high efficiency furnaces, vents the exhaust outside are located near ground level and are vulnerable to getting clogged with ice and snow. When it’s extremely cold outside, be sure to check those vents frequently and remove any ice or snow build-up. That will ensure your system doesn’t have performance or safety issues.
Neighbor Watch In extremely cold weather, the chances of your furnace failing increase. If it does fail, your home may be susceptible to frozen pipes and other structural damage. If you’re going to be absent from your home for a while, especially during very low outside temperatures, have a neighbor check to make sure your heat is keeping your home warm (and let you know if it isn’t). That way, you can avoid any issues.
Keep these tips in mind when the temperatures plunge and you’ll have the best chance of keeping your home warm and comfortable.
Of course, your best defense is to have your furnace serviced before the cold arrives, before it’s really needed.
How We Can Help
Our team offers a wide array of routine maintenance and emergency services for your heating and cooling system, allowing your family to breathe fresh, safe, clean air and be comfortable year-round. We also offer a number of add-ons to your HVAC equipment that can improve your home’s IAQ, such as electrostatic air filters, whole-house humidifiers, duct cleaning, and more.
Schedule an appointment for HVAC system troubleshooting or maintenance with us today by using our online contact form, or call one of our seven neighborhood offices listed below. We pride ourselves on our customer-focused service, and our reviews show it.
NEWARK 740.345.6639 • COLUMBUS 614.238.6689 • DUBLIN 614.545.8939 • REYNOLDSBURG 614.365.1579 • WESTERVILLE 614.381.1540 • GROVE CITY 614.595.3098 • ZANESVILLE 740.454.2420
Dor-Mar…Your Climate Hero!
