There are many HVAC safety tips that northern Utah residents need to keep in mind during our harsh winter seasons!
Winters are always extremely cold and snowy throughout northern Utah, which is why home and business owners need to be aware of many different safety precautions that apply to our harsh winters.
Although there are many different HVAC safety tips that you should keep in mind this time of year, we’re detailing eight crucial tips that can help you ward off potential repairs and maintenance issues. We’re also confident that you can ensure the health and safety of your entire household or business when you follow the below safety tips.
So, keep reading on to see our ten wintertime HVAC safety tips that you should be applying at your northern Utah property!
1. Double-Check Your Carbon Monoxide & Smoke Detectors
It’s important to make a habit out of testing your carbon monoxide and smoke detector batteries on a regular basis, and you should be changing out these batteries at least on a yearly basis.
You should also be aware of your detector’s expiration date, which is usually found near the bottom of the device. If you don’t see any kind of expiration date on your detector, you should simply keep in mind that most carbon monoxide detectors only last about 3-5 years. Smoke detectors tend to be more durable, and they usually last around 8-10 years.
2. Warm Your Car Up Outside & NOT In Your Garage
This is a tip that a lot of northern Utah residents forget about, and this is usually because people will warm their cars up in their garages out of convenience. But the truth is that you shouldn’t be warming up your vehicles in your garage, and this even applies to when you open your garage door.
Idling your car in a confined area like a garage will inevitably expose you and your family members to carbon monoxide and all sorts of harmful gasses. So, it’s often better to be safe than sorry when you’re warming up your car on a daily basis during the winter!
3. Prevent Frozen Water Pipes
Although frozen water pipes technically apply to your property’s plumbing system, there are many severe consequences associated with these plumbing repairs that directly apply to your HVAC system.
It’s important to remember how your pipes in unheated spaces and near exterior walls are the most susceptible to freezing during the winter, and this includes household areas like your basement and attic. Pipe insulation is a crucial investment for both your plumbing and HVAC systems, and every home in northern Utah should have frost-proof spigots.
And when extreme cold spells inevitably come through our area, it can be a good idea to slowly trickle warm water through your faucets to make pipe freezing less likely to occur.
4. Ensuring Proper HVAC Ventilation
Northern Utah property owners also have to consider the importance of yearly ventilation cleaning. This applies to things like dryer vents, return/supply vents, kitchen/bathroom exhaust fans, and much more.
Wintertime just so happens to be the time of year when most people are spending extra time indoors, which can lead to dust and other airborne particle accumulation. This type of accumulation can lead to indoor air quality dilemmas, but taking care of your property’s HVAC ventilation each winter will go a long way to safeguard you and your property’s indoor air quality!
5. Replacing Filters
Your furnace’s filters need to be replaced several times during the winter season, and this is mainly because your furnace will be working much harder while temperatures plummet below freezing. And as we all know here in northern Utah, our region experiences freezing temperatures essentially from November all the way into May!
Routine filter replacements will guarantee the operational efficiency of your property’s heating system, and replacing your filters will also improve your indoor air quality and help you save on your monthly utility bills.
6. Scheduling Seasonal Furnace Inspections
A lot of home and business owners will schedule furnace inspections during the fall months in preparation for our harsh winters, but this doesn’t mean that you won’t need thorough inspections during the heart of winter.
Yearly furnace inspections are important for every northern Utah property, no matter what time of year the inspection occurs. These inspections will help you to ensure optimal efficiency and functionality, and they’ll also help you prevent costly repairs and potential system breakdowns.
7. Keep A Close Eye On Your Outdoor Utility Equipment
Outdoor vents and meters need to be closely monitored during our harsh winter seasons, and this generally means making sure that they’re clear of snow and ice buildup.
Just be sure to take precautions when plowing or shoveling around your utility equipment, and don’t use heat sources to melt ice or snow.
8. Regularly Examining Your Outdoor Exhaust Vents
Your property most likely uses many different natural gas appliances, including things like furnaces, fireplaces and water heaters. These appliances all require an outdoor exhaust vent, which typically is a plastic pipe that exits your property around its foundation.
Here in northern Utah, it’s crucial for home and business owners to make sure that their outdoor exhaust vents are clear of ice, snow and other debris. This also applies to every season, so this isn’t just a wintertime safety tip!
Reach Out To Our HVAC Experts For More Safety Tips To Protect Your Northern Utah Property!
It’s no secret how northern Utah experiences one of the harshest winters in the entire United States, and enjoying our snowy winters is often simultaneously a blessing and a curse for home and business owners.
Beehive Heating & Air is one of the leading HVAC companies that supports the entire Salt Lake metro area, and our experts are always here to answer your questions and guide you toward long-term, sustainable HVAC system safety.
Reach out to us online or call us at 801-849-3860 to speak with our specialists today about protecting your HVAC system this winter!