As snow falls and temperatures drop, you can rest assured that the furnace in your home will keep your living room comfortable no matter the weather outside. With the cold weather and falling temperatures, your furnace will be put to the test to keep you and your family comfortable.
To prepare for winter this season, you must understand how the cold affects your furnace. If you do this, you will avoid experiencing a loss of heat or any other furnace disaster that makes it unbearably cold. Let’s examine how cold affects your furnace and how to prevent these problems from occurring.
- Ineffective heat pump
Heat pumps are very popular in Bakersfield because they work as heaters and air conditioners. Air and refrigerant are used to power the heating system. Using refrigerant moves heat from outside to inside your home.
However, there isn’t enough heat to transfer when it gets very cold outside. When that happens, a hybrid heat pump switches to an electricity backup or strip heating. Cold days will keep your house toasty warm with strip heating, which is inefficient and costly. You can learn more about specific heating problems if you have a heat pump in cold weather. - Gelling oil
A furnace that runs on oil uses some kind of heating oil. Outdoor storage tanks are typically used to store oil. You may experience problems with your heating oil clouding and gelling in cold weather. It is impossible for oil to freeze, unlike water.
Nevertheless, wax particles are present, hardening as temperatures drop. Your oil tank sinks as they harden. If the weather remains below 16° Fahrenheit for an extended period, sludge can form. In cold weather, certain chemicals can prevent your oil from gelling. - Frozen condensate line
The condensate line in your heating systems in Bakersfield, CA, may freeze if the temperature drops below. When your heating system operates, moisture is created in the condensate line. Your condensation drip pan will overflow if it freezes and blocks the pipe. There could be some serious water damage as a result. The condensate line should be thawed immediately if it has frozen. - Cold spots
In cold weather, inconsistent temperatures are a common heating problem. Extreme weather makes cold or hot spots more noticeable. There are several reasons why your home’s temperature may be uneven. Ensure all of your vents and dampers are open first.
It is also possible for cold spots to be caused by duct leaks or poor insulation. Check to see if your windows are well sealed. You will not be able to heat your entire house if your air conditioner is improperly sized. There can be cold spots in certain areas as a result of that.
Here Are Common Heating Mistakes to Avoid
- Leaving your house too cold at night
Extreme temperatures are not your thermostat’s friend. By turning your thermostat way down at night, you might be able to save some pennies. - Overextending your heater’s capabilities
During extremely cold temperatures, your heating system can be overworked. In most cases, certain heating systems are designed to heat efficiently only when the outside temperature is above zero. - Never turn off the heat.
The heat may have to be kept continuously if you don’t have a programmable thermostat, and your old-fashioned heating system won’t accept an aftermarket upgrade. It will cost you more to leave the heater running continuously than to shut it off and turn it on strategically if you have a programmable thermostat.Â
MRV Service Air INC. has been in the HVAC industry for many years, and you can trust them with all your HVAC needs. MRV Service Air INC. Schedule service with us today and experience 100% satisfaction from air conditioning installation to  heating repair in Bakersfield.
