For many in Cary, Raleigh or anywhere else in the Triangle area, October often means turning on their heat pump for the first time. This year is no different, Fall is definitely here and it is getting cold in Cary! You may be able to get by without turning on your heat by wearing a jacket, but that won’t last for long. At some point, if you live in Cary or any of its surrounding cities, you will need to turn on your heat pump to keep you warm. If you have had a professional from Cool Change Heating and Air complete fall HVAC maintenance on your heating system, then you are ready to fire up your heat pump. However if no one has serviced your heat pump this fall, you may need to go through some simple steps before you turn on your heating system.
Replace your filters!
You should already be doing that on a regular basis, but if you aren’t DO IT! Your air filter could be dirty and clogged causing your Cary heating system to not work at all or not work efficiently.
Burn the dust of your Cary heat pump.
Your heat pump might have collected dust over the past year. When you turn on your heating system for the first time, you might notice a funny or burning smell. Don’t worry! It’s probably just the dust getting burned off. However if the smell doesn’t go away, call us at Cool Change Heating and Air to come and take a look.
Check your thermostat
Make sure your Cary heat pump is heating all your rooms, by taking a thermometer to each room and recording the temperature. Then you can be positive that your heat pump is heating your Cary home correctly.
Check out the heat pump area.
Make sure there is nothing touching the heat pump. There should be no debris or yard waste around it. If there is, be sure to clear it out immediately.
Prepare for freezing temperatures
Here are a few things you can do to make sure your Cary heat pump is ready for the winter.
Check weather stripping around doors and windows
Make sure you have weather stripping around all your doors and windows to ensure the cold air doesn’t come in and the warm air staying inside. This will help your heat pump to not work as hard throughout the winter.
Have your chimney cleaned and inspected
If you have a fireplace that burns wood, make sure to have your chimney inspected and cleaned. Make sure there are no loose bricks or cracks in the chimney.
Make an emergency no heat kit
Freezing temperatures and storms can come up quickly and leave your Cary Heat pump out of order for hours. Buy at least a 3 day supply of water and non-perishable food. You should also have a battery powered radio, blankets, flashlights, and batteries. Make sure to run your generator once every few months.
Leave heat on to protect your heat pump
Make sure to leave your thermostat at 55 degrees or higher so your pipes don’t freeze. Even if you leave your Cary home for a few days, you don’t want your heat pump to stop heating or it could cause your pipes to freeze.
Getting your Cary Heat pump ready for the colder temperatures can save you money this winter. If you want professional help getting your heat pump ready for winter, please call, text, or email Cool Change Heating and Air.
