By Meghan Belnap
Turning your heater off during the winter, especially when the temperature is below freezing, can be dangerous for your family and the property. It could prevent your body from producing heat quickly and normally. When it comes to your home, the water and pipes can freeze, causing them to burst, amongst other issues. Therefore, you need to know what steps to take when your system goes out in the winter to restore heat and keep your body and home in good condition.
Use a Space Heater
Although it won’t warm up the entire home as an HVAC system, this device can prevent you from feeling uncomfortable while waiting on repairs and maintenance for your heating unit. Using multiple space heaters would be a good idea to warm up more areas throughout the house. The size of the devices should coincide with the space inside the room. For instance, bigger rooms need heaters with higher wattage, allowing the device to be a primary heating source based on the square footage. Remember to monitor the space heaters and never leave an appliance on in a room unless you are there for safety reasons.
Dress Warm, Take Up Physical Activity and Cook
Sometimes wearing a coat, gloves and other warm clothing and accessories can keep your body warm while you wait for your HVAC system to be repaired during winter. The extra layers of clothing can control your body’s temperature and give you peace of mind. In addition to dressing warm, staying active and taking up cooking would be an excellent idea. Moving muscles increases your body’s temperature, and cooking uses much heat, meaning heat will move around the entire home when the oven is in use.
Make Repairs
Furnaces can leak in the winter, heat can crack and belts can break. A damaged heating system could lead to colder temperatures during the winter months and potential sickness. Therefore, professionals must step in and fix the unit. An HVAC company, like Turnbull Heating & Air Conditioning, knows what steps to take, what parts to repair or replace and how to get the heat up and running throughout your home, so your family can stay warm and enjoy the holidays and other cold months.
Utilize Your Fireplace
Encourage the entire family to bundle up in the living room or other home areas with a fireplace to stay warm while the heating system is out. Keep in mind that a fireplace cannot warm up the entire home because the heat does not spread in that manner. However, it helps reduce energy costs and comes in handy when the heat or electricity is out.
These are tips you can use to repair your heater if it goes out in the winter, to prevent your family from experiencing physical or mental health issues, and to keep your house in good condition. Remember to remain calm and that taking up one of your pre-planned strategies can help restore the heat and allow you to stay warm during the colder months.
Meghan Belnap is a freelance writer who enjoys spending time with her family. She loves being outdoors and researching new topics that help to expand her horizons.
