Safety & Performance Tips from Our Sandy, UT HVAC Experts
At Main Street Heating & Cooling, we are committed to helping you achieve optimal comfort, improve energy bills, and protect the environment.
Prolong the Life of Your HVAC Equipment
Holiday & Cold Weather Safety
As you welcome guests for the holidays, keep these recommendations in mind to preserve the safety and comfort of friends and family:
- Schedule regular furnace maintenance. These visits typically include air filter changes and carbon monoxide checks, as well as an overall assessment of system performance and energy efficiency.
- Be careful with holiday lights. Check all strands before use to ensure that there are no exposed wires, bare spots, or other obvious safety concerns. Use outdoor-rated lights for your exterior decorating, since they are designed to be more weatherproof. Finally, don’t overload outlets. Too many lights plugged into one outlet could start a house fire.
- Install and check carbon monoxide detectors.
- When hiding your holiday gifts, keep all wrapping paper and paper products away from your furnace.
Candle Safety
When homeowners use candles to ring in the holidays and other special occasions, safety becomes a greater concern. An average of 42 home candle fires are reported each day.
- Keep candles and tart burners out in the open, at least one foot away from furniture, textiles, and curtains. In addition, keep loose clothing and hair away from the flame.
- Never leave candles or tart warmers unattended while you run to the store or go outside. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, 20% of candle fires occur when homeowners forget or abandon a burning flame.
- Make sure votives, pillars, and taper candles are placed in a ceramic, glass, or metal container so they cannot easily tip over.
- Do night light candles in your home if oxygen is in use.
- Consider candle alternatives. Many stores carry battery-operated candles with realistic flickering.
Spicing Up Your Air Filter
To make your home smell festive without candles, consider adding a scented air freshener to your filter. From vanilla cookies to evergreen to cinnamon, Main Street Heating & Cooling can recommend a scented filter option to sweeten the holidays.
Conserving Holiday Energy
If you’re like many Sandy and South Jordan homeowners, your kitchen and HVAC system may be working overtime this holiday season as you prepare food and welcome guests.
To conserve energy during the chilly holiday season, consider these tips:
- Give your furnace a break. If you’re hosting a gathering, remember that body heat and oven use generate a good deal of warmth on their own. Turn off your HVAC system for the day—and have more money for holiday gifts!
- Keep the lid on and the door closed. Each time you lift a pot lid or open the oven to examine your holiday fixings, you lose critical (and costly) heat.
- Save energy by using small appliances to cook some dishes. Crockpots, toaster ovens, and microwaves use less energy than larger kitchen appliances.
For more information, or if you have any questions, feel free to give us a call at (385) 422-2232 or send us a message online.