HVAC Expert Shares Tips to Safeguard Your Heating System Ahead of Winter

(KNSI) — Furnaces are firing up all over as unseasonably cold temps settle in, and an HVAC expert has some tips to keep your heating systems healthy.

Some people close vents in rooms that are empty, but HVAC experts like Jeremy Cox say that’s a bad idea. “When you start closing off registers you can actually raise the pressure inside the system and reduce airflow or cause it to work harder than it really should.”

That means an increase in utility costs or costly repairs.

“It does put stress on the systems which will wear them out more quickly and give you a higher potential for problems. You run the risk of the system overheating and then turning off onm safety until it cools back off – in severe cases.”

When it comes to the thermostat, he says there is no *perfect* temperature. Set it where you want it, but realize each degree higher or lower will affect how much it costs to heat your home. Keep registers and doors open and keep the air moving by using ceiling fans. Just make sure they’re spinning clockwise to create an updraft and circulate warm air around the room.

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