Christmas in Ohio can be a magical time of the year! Snow, shopping, baking, parties with friends and family – this season is filled with many holiday activities. Seasonal decorations also play a big part in the fun! It can be so exciting that sometimes, it’s easy to forget that decorations should be placed strategically in and around your home. So, your Beavercreek Heating & Cooling gang is here to remind you not to forget about your HVAC system in the hustle and bustle. More often than you would think, holiday decorations can get in the way of your HVAC system performing its job or, even worse – cause a hazardous situation.
1. Be Mindful of Items That Are Flammable
Flammable items are often easily overlooked in the middle of decorating for Christmas. We all can get easily caught up in the pretty ambiance. But please be mindful of items like paper decorations, wrapped packages, blankets, and other flammable objects. These should all be kept away from heating elements like fireplaces and candles. Furthermore, if you use these elements, please take extra care to put them out properly before leaving your home or heading to bed.
2. Be Careful of Covering Your Thermostat
It’s easy to get carried away by placing a garland here and a garland there. Perhaps you have an extra string of Christmas lights you want to hang somewhere? Whatever the case, you want to make sure you aren’t covering the thermostat. When a thermostat is obstructed, it could affect the thermostat’s ability to read the temperature in your home correctly. Moreover, when this happens, it will not effectively communicate with your furnace, ultimately causing it to put out the wrong amount of heat that your home needs.
3. Be Sure to Keep the Vents Clear
Another component of your HVAC system you want to be mindful of is your vents! With additional items and decorations filling your home this season, you should be sure that nothing is obstructing your vents. Although you might think, “It’s just for a month,” you should stay vigilant and ensure that nothing is blocking your vents. Similar to the thermostat, when your HVAC vents are blocked off, they won’t be able to perform their job as intended. And the last thing you need is for your furnace to have issues during the holidays.
4. Be Conscious of Your Condenser
Last but not least, you’ll want to pay attention to your condenser (your outdoor unit). Even though the condenser is built to withstand the outdoor weather and is not used in the wintertime, it’s still a good idea to make sure the condenser is not surrounded by loose debris such as twigs, leaves, and outdoor objects. Snow and ice paired with debris or random objects can result in unnecessary blockages and damage to your unit. So, it’s always best to keep the vicinity around the condenser clean and clear. As an added tip, if you want an extra layer of protection, you may use a condenser cover to further protect your outdoor unit in the winter.
The best thing you can do for your HVAC system this Christmas is to be mindful and stay vigilant. We want you to enjoy your Christmas with your loved ones without the unnecessary stress of dealing with an HVAC catastrophe. We are open 24/7, 365 days a year for emergency services. You can call us anytime, and we will be there as soon as we can. No matter what time of the year it is!
Call Beavercreek Heating & Cooling today at (937) 708-8527, or schedule an appointment online now by clicking here!
