Why Winter Is The Best Time to Upgrade Your HVAC
HVAC (heating, ventilation & air conditioning) is integral in making your home or office space comfortable. Winter is the ideal time to start your preparation for HVAC unit concerning air conditioning.
Be proactive, not reactive. Sorting your air-con out in preparation for the summer gives you full access options and more time to make the right decision for you specifically. This is the same for a business in commercial air conditioning or for your own home in the case of domestic air conditioning.
As HVAC services are less busy during this time, you may find discounts for the equipment itself or installation so make the most of this opportunistic time frame.
Prevent emergency breakdown
Of course, the pressure for working AC is off so you are in control of the installation here. You can minimise disruption to your business. There is nothing like switching on your AC in the summer months, only to find it isn’t operational.
An older HVAC unit is more likely to stop working during a heatwave. Avoid the peak season waiting times and have installation carried out at a time to suit your business – not dependent on emergency needs!
Efficiency through maintenance
Calling for air-con maintenance will ensure your air filters are cleaned, coils and drains as well as inspecting electrical connections and ensuring things like the thermostat and fan are working properly. As such, this cleaning can improve the performance as well as improve the quality of air through the removal of dust, mold spores and allergens. Of course, arranging for regular HVAC services will keep your unit in the best condition – giving you a longer lifespan.
Consider a Heat Pump
Rather than generating it, heat pumps move heat so are more efficient than traditional boilers. They operate on electricity and instead of burning fuel to generate heat, it will use the naturally occurring heat from the outside air or the ground.
Upgrading to a modern electric heat pump can give all year-round heating and cooling in one system. However, be sure to improve the home insulations to optimise efficiency here.
Also, as these systems don’t use fossil fuels, carbon emissions are reduced. If you’re switching from an old G-rated gas boiler, then there’s the potential for your not just your carbon footprint to be lowered, but your energy bills too.
Have solar panels? Perfect. Then you can save even more by using the free energy generated here to power the heat pump.
Finally, the UK government can provide grants to help you pay for this with schemes such as the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS). This can provide up to £7500 for a ground source or air source heat pump if you live in England or Wales.
Smart Thermostats
A modern HVAC system can often be accessible via remote. This may be through a smart thermostat which is controlled through an app so you can adjust the thermostat when outside the premises. This greater sense of control of your heating gives you accurate control over not just temperature, but some can even change humidity and airflow.
You can expect to save money through wasted heating and with the smartphone app connected to your HVAC system for winter, you can ensure that when you are home, you can enter a house that is just right in temperature – not over or under heated.
In terms of your air conditioning, some smart thermostats may be able to detect issues such as clogged filters or low refrigerant. This can warn you of potential problems before the need for any major repairs.
Ensuring safety standards
A heating system, particularly those powered through gas can be a safety risk if not properly maintained. Carbon monoxide leaks, electricals fires and more issues could arise so arranging for professional HVAC maintenance to be carried ensures your system complies with safety regulations and your people are protected.
Summary
Overall, for cost efficiency it really is worth either upgrading yourHVAC system or carrying out the maintenance in these winter months. You can avoid the peak season charges and are more likely to encounter prices cheaper than the busy summer period. Not to mention, a HVAC unit that is neglected is more likely to fail on you. There are steps you can take such as insulating pipes and ducts in the cold parts of your home to prevent them from freezing and bursting. Of course, your best call to action though is to arrange for a professional checkup.