When snow is in the forecast for the Buffalo area, it’s hard know if it will be a light dusting or a complete blizzard. Let’s face it, our winter weather is unpredictable, so you should always keep your HVAC system ready for the next big snow storm. We are going to review some things you can do to prep your HVAC system for snow in the forecast, so you can increase your energy efficiency, prevent the need for an emergency heating service call, and ensure that your family stays comfortable, even during the nastiest weather.

Prep Your HVAC System for the Snow Ahead

When snow is in our Western New York forecast, who knows what that means, it really just depends where you live and what Mother Nature decides. While the weather is not something we can control, our warmth and heating in our homes is. You need to ensure your HVAC system won’t leave you in the cold and follow the below tips to prepare your HVAC system for the snow to come.

– Schedule a Furnace Inspection and Tune-up: At this point in the winter, you likely have already had your annual furnace tune-up, but that could have been months ago. When snow and harsh winter conditions are in the forecast, the best thing you can do to prep your HVAC system, is to have a professional Buffalo heating expert inspect it to help to prevent heating problems, boost energy efficiency, protect your system from unexpected costly repairs, and improve the overall heating operation of your unit. The technician will take the time to run through the major components of your heating system and will clean, tighten, and lubricate them as needed and be able to identify and fix any issues before you are without heat in the worst conditions.

– Check Your Insulation: 9 out of 10 homes in U.S. are not sufficiently insulated, according to Energy Star. This means your heating unit has to consume more energy and exert more to heat the home. You can ensure your home stays warm, save money on heating your home, and not overwork your HVAC system, if you get your insulation up to par. Look for drafts around windows and doors, and seal up any air leaks that can let cold air in and hot air out. By checking and improving your insulation, as you prepare for wintery conditions, you help your HVAC unit as well. A properly insulated home can retain heated air better than one that is not sealed well and allows drafts. If your heating unit needs to work too hard to keep up with the loss of heat, it can overwork and lead to an unanticipated and unwelcome breakdown.

– Inspect and Clear Vents: As you prep your HVAC system for the snow ahead, don’t forget about your vents. Your HVAC system uses the vents throughout your Buffalo home to disperse the hot air it is producing; thus, if a vent or vents are closed or covered this can prevent proper airflow and lead to uneven heating and your HVAC system having to work tirelessly to keep your home at the ideal temperature. Any time that your heating unit is working harder than it should, it puts it at risk for potential issues and a breakdown. Ensure there is no clothing, furniture, or other items over your vents, and check them to make sure they are all open and working as expected.

– Prepare Your Air Filters: There are many benefits of changing your Buffalo, New York home’s air filter, this holds true especially before a forecasted winter storm. When the temperatures are colder, your HVAC system will run more frequently and your filters will fill up much quicker than normal. If a filter is clogged and not replaced as needed, it can affect the performance of the HVAC system and consume more energy. Not only should you check and change your air filter before snow, you should have extras handy in case yours needs replaced and you can’t leave to purchase a new one. Even if you are strict about replacing your air filters on a regular basis, if there are forecasts of severe winter weather, you should inspect the air filters and replace them, if needed.

– Utilize a Programmable Thermostat: We have reviewed before how a programmable thermostat can bring many benefits to your home, this holds true, especially in the winter months, as we face extreme temperature changes and weather. If you don’t have a programmable thermostat, installing one before a snow storm is a good idea. With programmable settings, you can preset the temperatures at which the thermostat should run at specific hours throughout the day and night. This can save you at least 10% a year on heating and cooling costs and help relieve some of the burden off your HVAC unit. As a reminder, in the colder months, you should keep your thermostat set at around 68°F during the day and drop it by 10 degrees when you sleep and are away.

Snow is inevitable during our Buffalo, New York winters. You need to prep your HVAC system for the snow ahead so you can remain comfortable and cozy in your home all winter long.

Reimer Home Services is here for all of your heating needs. We fix, service, and replace furnaces and boilers in Buffalo and Western New York. Since 1921, local homeowners have trusted Reimer with their home’s heating service needs. Has your furnace stopped working? Call us. We’re available Day or Night to help. We don’t charge our customers extra for service on nights or weekends. Plus, all of our repairs come backed by our 2-year warranty.

When you need heating services here in Buffalo and Erie County, call your local furnace professionals at Reimer Home Services.