While cold weather can have some fun benefits, it can be more of a pain than it’s worth in general, especially when it comes to your house’s heating system. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to fix any problems. If you would like to know how to avoid common heating system issues during the winter, then read this article.
Thermostat Malfunctions
Even though most of the heating problems we’re going to talk about come from the system itself, this first one is actually about thermostat issues. Every so often, your thermostat will say that it’s a specific temperature when it isn’t. If you have another way to check the temp of the room, you can easily determine when this is an issue.
If your thermostat uses batteries, a simple replacement will do the trick to fix this. However, if it stems from a wiring issue, you’ll likely need to call a heating maintenance company to come and fix it up for you.
Malfunctioning Heat Pump
Various parts of the heat pump in your heating system may be outside or near your home’s exterior. This is most common with propane systems since the fuel sits stored outside. If you own one of these, there are plenty of strategies to protect your propane tank in the winter.
Still, the fans and coils inside any type of heat pump can form ice that causes blockages if not thawed properly. Luckily, most systems have automated defrosters that will take care of this. But if they break down, then warm air will have a lot more trouble flowing through your system. You’ll need a professional technician to fix this problem if it happens.
Carbon Monoxide Leaks
By far, the most dangerous problem you’ll encounter is a carbon monoxide leak. Knowing how to avoid this common heating system issue during the winter is critical for keeping your family safe. Other than updating your heating system, there’s not much you can do to prevent this issue.
You’ll need to set up carbon monoxide detectors throughout your house to protect yourself. If they ever go off, everyone must leave the house until emergency services remedy the situation.
Uneven Airflows
One of the more annoying issues is having uneven airflow, which can cause some rooms to feel colder than others. Drafts in certain rooms or unchanged air filters are the most common culprits of this problem, but fortunately, they’re both easy fixes. Putting in a new air filter and closing any cracks letting in cold air should fix the problem.
If they don’t, your internal ductwork could be at the root of the issue. Hot air could be seeping out into your walls if the channels don’t line up correctly. However, if there are no cracks or gaps, it could just be that your air ducts are too narrow to effectively push air through. Both problems are quite fixable with replacement parts, as long as you can find them.
