New Jersey winters can be extreme, often reaching the low to mid-30s. Preparing your HVAC for winter helps to give you peace of mind, knowing that your system is going to keep everyone warm.
At Sam’s Air, our licensed HVAC technicians are available throughout Middlesex County to tune up, repair, or install home heating systems. We’re dedicated to providing our community members with year-round comfort, and that includes keeping the heat running efficiently all winter long.
Why Winter HVAC Preparation Matters in Central New Jersey
Winter HVAC preparation in the Edison area is important because it:
- Prevents unexpected breakdowns.
- Lowers your energy bills by ensuring efficient operation.
- Improves indoor air quality.
- Keeps your home comfortable.
- Prevents dangerous fire hazards and gas leaks.
- Extends your heater’s lifespan to up to 20 years by reducing wear and tear.
The following are some HVAC tips Central New Jersey residents can use for furnaces, heat pumps, and boilers.
How to Prepare Your Heat Pump for Winter After Warm Months
Your heat pump provides both heating and cooling to your home, and with proper seasonal maintenance, it will keep your home comfortable year-round.
Switch from cooling to heating mode
One of the easiest winter heating preparation tips we can offer is to check that you’ve switched the unit from cooling to heating mode. Heat pumps work by moving heat from inside your home to outside. Switch to the reverse mode, so it can move heat from outside in. If you’re not sure how to do this, consult your user manual, or give us a call. We’re happy to assist you.
Clear debris around the outdoor unit
Make sure nothing is covering or blocking your heat pump’s outdoor unit. It needs proper airflow to work efficiently. To winterize your outdoor equipment:
- Clear away any debris.
- Remove any vegetation growing nearby.
- Avoid storing any items near the heat pump.
- Shovel snow away from the unit, giving at least 2 feet of clearance.
- Trim overhanging trees and bushes.
Schedule a professional heat pump tune-up
At Sam’s Air, our HVAC techs offer thorough heat pump maintenance services that’ll fully prepare your system for the winter. We inspect, clean, and tune-up the entire heating system for optimal performance, keeping your energy bills low and improving operation. Book your professional heat pump tune-up today for better home heating.
How to Prepare Your Furnace for Winter
Depending on the type of furnace you have, winter preparations vary. Electric furnaces have different needs from gas furnaces, but they all require regular seasonal maintenance to get them ready to provide reliable heat for your household. Some easy ways to prepare your furnace for winter include:
Replace the air filters
One of the most important things that you can do to get your HVAC system ready for a new season is to clean or replace your filters. Ideally, air filters should be changed every 30 days, or when they’re dirty. Contaminants that get sucked into an HVAC system can block proper airflow, forcing the heater to work harder resulting in wear and tear on its components. Dirty air filters also affect your indoor air quality.
Check the thermostat and pilot light
When it’s time to switch from cooling to heating, make sure your programmed temperature settings are switched to comfortable yet energy-efficient settings for when people are home, then set your thermostat to lower the temperature slightly during times when people are not in the house. This can reduce your energy bills and protect your HVAC equipment from excess wear and tear.
You can also turn your fan setting to its auto function so your blower only runs during a heating cycle. This limits excess energy consumption and prevents cold air from circulating through the home when the fan runs without heat.
Schedule a furnace checkup and maintenance appointment
A professional furnace inspection and tune-up allows for the identification and repair of potential hidden issues. Don’t forget to schedule furnace maintenance with a qualified technician before winter. Routine maintenance for your HVAC system is necessary to ensure that it’s running efficiently, and will ease your mind knowing that the dust-burning smell is normal the first time you turn the furnace on.
How to Prepare Your Boiler System for Cold Weather
Many Central NJ residents have boilers to heat their homes. Preparing for winter is crucial because failing boilers can cause serious issues like gas or oil leaks, mold growth, or a total breakdown, leaving you in the cold. Here are some steps you can take to get your boiler ready for winter:
Inspect the pilot or ignition
Your boiler’s pilot light should have a steady blue flame. If it is split, looks weak, or is a yellow or orange color, these are all signs of underlying problems that should be addressed by an HVAC expert.
Schedule boiler maintenance with Sam’s Air to ensure your boiler’s ignition is working properly, especially if it’s showing signs of problems like:
- Turning off
- Strange noises
- Pilot light issues
- Error codes
We’ll test the ignition and ensure the boiler is working safely, so you can enjoy whole-home heating without worry.
Check for leaks
Boiler water leaks may indicate a small, easily solvable problem, or they could mean it’s time for an upgrade. If water’s leaking from your boiler, it could be due to:
- Pressure problems
- Damaged seals
- Damaged body
- Loose joints
A professional HVAC technician can pinpoint the problem, and fix it to ensure efficient, leak-free operation.
Schedule a professional inspection
Getting a full heating system checkup before winter is also a good idea for boilers. Our seasonal HVAC checkups include:
- A visual inspection, inside and out.
- Cleaning up soot, mineral deposits, and debris.
- Pressure and temperature checks.
- Thermostat calibration and testing.
- Efficiency assessment.
- Safety checks.
Extra Winter HVAC Tips for Central New Jersey Homeowners
Some additional steps you can take to enjoy efficient home heating in the Central NJ area include:
- Upgrades: Upgrading to a high-efficiency furnace or heat pump means reliable heat, and potential energy bill savings.
- Timely repairs: Don’t wait to schedule heater repair for small issues. The longer you leave it, the higher the chance of large, costly issues or a total breakdown.
- Test the furnace: Turn the furnace on to check that each room heats up and ensure it’s not making any unusual sounds or emitting strange odors.
- Check your fuel supply: If your system runs on natural gas or propane, it’s wise to check on your supply before winter.
Contact Sam’s Air for All Your HVAC Needs
If you are in Edison, Metuchen, NJ, or the surrounding area, our team at Sam’s Air Control would love to speak to you about preparing your HVAC system for the New Jersey winter. We are a family-owned business that has built up trust throughout the community, providing honest, professional service.
We also offer a robust and comprehensive maintenance program that emphasizes early detection, routine maintenance, and a great number of additional perks. If you are looking for a reliable and full-service HVAC company in Central Jersey that can handle all of your needs, contact Sam’s Air Control today.
