As we head towards colder temps, now is a great time to check a few things around your home
All heating and cooling systems have some way to control the desired temperature of the unit, window air conditioners have the control right on the unit itself or can be controlled with a remote or an app. Boilers, furnaces, and mini-split/heat pump units all use a thermostat that is mounted to a wall in the room that the system affects. Most thermostats are powered by batteries and like anything with batteries, they need to be replaced.
To replace the batteries in your thermostat(s), you’ll need to either pull the entire front plate from the back plate screwed into the wall or open a compartment on the front of the thermostat. You should replace these at the beginning of each heating season, usually around September or October.
Ensure that the switch to your heating system is in the on position
While your heating system is controlled by your thermostat, there is usually a master switch with a red plate near the heating system itself or at the top of the stairs. This is common with oil and propane heating systems; it allows you to turn off the system and prevent any kind of usage during warmer months or a way to turn off the system in an emergency. It’s important to understand that this should only be done if you have an electric or direct-fired water heater. Indirect water heaters use the boiler to heat the water periodically to maintain the desired temperature.
At the beginning of the heating system, make sure that this switch is in the ON position and if your heat is not turning on, check this switch.
Furnaces, heat pumps, and mini-splits all utilize some type of filter to enhance air flow and prevent the entry of negative health-impacting particles into the air. For furnaces, these filters should be replaced annually. If you’d like to schedule this service, you can click here or on the ‘Schedule Online’ button above. Other filters, like those in your heat pump or mini-split, can be cleaned with warm soapy water and air-dried.
