Winter weather can be a bit unpredictable. Sometimes it seems as though storms brew up overnight and skies can turn from blue to gray in a matter of minutes.
This year, the Farmer’s Almanac estimates that Maryland will experience a particularly snow-filled winter, the Annapolis Patch reported. The 200-year-old publication also recommended that residents pay close attention to weather forecasts during Jan. 20-23, Feb. 4-7 and 16-19, and March 1-3 and 20-23.
Homeowners living in this area may prepare by bringing their scarves, sidewalk salt, and sleds out from storage, but it’s important that they focus on indoor tasks to get ready for the change in seasons, too. An key aspect of this is ensuring the home HVAC system is in working order and able to take on the upcoming cold, snowy winter.
Give it an Annual Check-Up
The first step in assessing the health of your HVAC system is similar to what you do to keep tabs on your own health: Go in for an annual check-up. Of course, instead of bringing your HVAC system to a professional, you’ll have a technician come to you.
SMO Energy’s team of knowledgeable technicians can come to your home, review each system component and identify any issues that could lead to larger problems later in the winter. It’s best to catch these early on to make the necessary repairs right away.
Will your HVAC be ready for the next big winter storm?Clean Your Heating Equipment
Dust, dirt and other forms of buildup on your equipment can cause your home heating system to work harder than it needs to, reduce energy efficiency in your home and create a safety hazard in your home. To mitigate these issues, make sure critical aspects of your HVAC system are properly cleaned. These include:
- Ducts
- Furnaces
- Boilers
- Hoses
- Blower wheels
Cleaning these components of your HVAC system have other benefits outside energy efficiency as well. Mold, dust and allergen buildup can cause illness or discomfort to people in your home. During the winter when cold or stormy weather encourages many people to stay indoors, it’s important that homeowners keep health in mind.
Have a Backup Plan
When winter storms hit, it’s hard to know just how powerful they’ll be. Some wind up disrupting day-to-day life by way of canceled flights, dangerous road conditions and power outages. One 2017 mid-March storm caused about 30,000 power outages throughout Maryland, plus many more in Virginia, Delaware, New Jersey and in other states along the Eastern coast, CBS News reported.
While there are not many residents can do about flight cancelations or road conditions, there are some things they can do to prepare for power outages. A standby generator can help keep your home warm and your electronics functional during a particularly bad storm.
Is your home HVAC system ready for winter? Reach out to SMO Energy to make sure your equipment is prepared for the snowy season ahead.
