Preparing Your HVAC System Before Leaving for Vacation

March 3, 2025

Spring break is just around the corner, and summer vacation isn’t too far behind that. With that in mind, you may be wondering what temperature to set your thermostat to when you’re away. In today’s blog, we’ll be providing all the information you need to know to prepare your HVAC system before leaving for vacation.

Schedule Preventative Maintenance

The best way to keep your HVAC system healthy and functional is with preventative maintenance, and that goes double before leaving your home for an extended period of time. At WestAIR Heating & Cooling, we recommend yearly maintenance on your HVAC system to prevent issues. Our techs will check all components of your HVAC system and fix small issues before they become expensive problems. Learn more about our annual service maintenance today.

Clean or Replace Your Air Filter

Your air filter plays a critical role in promoting good air quality in your home. It traps pollutants such as smoke, dust, pollen, mold, bacteria, and even viruses. But those pollutants build up on the filter over time, which is why a permanent filter should be cleaned every 30 to 60 days. A replaceable 1” filter should be changed every 30 to 60 days, and a replaceable air cleaner filter should be changed annually. If you don’t clean or replace your filter, it will become clogged, which restricts the airflow in your home. This strains your HVAC system and forces it to work harder, raising energy bills.

Check Your Vents

Although air vents do not exist for the express purpose of trapping pollutants like air filters do, they can still become clogged with dust and other contaminants. And because many of them are near the floor, they are often blocked by furniture and other objects. Before you leave for your spring break vacation or any other trip, make sure your air vents are open, unobstructed, and clean. This ensures even airflow throughout your home while you’re away and prevents any areas of your home from rising or falling to extreme temperatures.

Adjust Your Thermostat Settings

So, what should you set the temperature to in your home while you are on vacation? The answer depends on the weather and time of year. Essentially, you want to set your thermostat as close to the outdoor temperature as possible in order to minimize the amount of work that your HVAC system has to do when you’re not there. So, during the spring in Minnesota, you can set it to around 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Once summer comes around, you can set it higher, but you shouldn’t go above 85 degrees. And during the winter, you shouldn’t set it below 50 degrees, in order to prevent pipes from freezing. However, if you have plants or animals that will be staying in the home while you’re away, make sure to keep the temperature comfortable for them.

Clean Around Your Outdoor AC unit

If the air conditioning will be running while you’re away, it’s a good idea to check on your outdoor unit. Similar to air filters and indoor air vents, make sure that it is unobstructed and clean of debris. Clear any large items away from it and spray it down with a garden hose if it is clogged with leaves, grass, or cotton. This will prevent unnecessary strain on your system and keep air flowing smoothly.

Upgrade to a Smart Thermostat

If you’re concerned about your home’s HVAC system, temperature, or humidity while you’re away, a smart thermostat is for you. Many of these devices allow you to monitor and adjust the temperature of your home from your smartphone or computer. You can even program a seven-day schedule!

Contact WestAIR

If you have a trip coming up and have any questions or concerns about your HVAC system, contact the professionals at WestAIR Heating & Cooling today. We are happy to check your system and ensure optimal functionality before you leave for your vacation, so you can have peace of mind even when you’re away.

Schedule an appointment today!

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Furnace Troubleshooting Guide: 5 Common Problems and Solutions

December 27, 2024

View our furnace troubleshooting guide to learn about common furnace problems and solutions on the WestAIR Heating and Cooling blog.

HVAC Winterization Tips to Save You Money

October 9, 2024

WestAIR Heating & Cooling has been installing and servicing HVAC systems in Minnesota for more than 35 years, and we’ve seen what our harsh winters and frigid temperatures can do to heating and ventilation appliances. Without proper maintenance, you’re likely to experience costly breakdowns and high energy bills as your system struggles to keep up. So, with winter once again on its way, we’ve put together a list of helpful tips to prepare your HVAC system for the long, cold months ahead. Check out the following HVAC winterization tips to help you improve your home’s energy efficiency, avoid system emergencies, and save you money. DIY HVAC Winterization Check and Replace Air Filters: We recommend changing or cleaning your air filters once a month, but doing so before winter is especially important. Air filters can become clogged with dirt and particles over time, making your system work harder and raising your energy bills in the process. These clogs also reduce the indoor air quality in your home. WestAIR provides high-quality filters for a variety of humidifiers and air cleaners. Just make sure to turn your HVAC system off before changing filters. Clean Vents and Registers: Just like your air filters, vents and registers are prone to collecting dust and debris that can inhibit proper air circulation. Fortunately, they’re easy to clean with a vacuum cleaner or even a soft-bristled brush for more careful dust removal. Once again, turn your HVAC system off before cleaning vents. Optimize Your Thermostat: A properly programmed thermostat can go a long way toward lowering energy costs and maintaining a comfortable temperature all winter. Make sure the batteries are charged and the unit is functioning normally. We also recommend installing a smart thermostat , which allows you to program different temperatures for day and night as well as for different rooms in your home. Schedule Professional Maintenance Service Although you can take steps to winterize your HVAC system on your own, a professional inspection can identify and address further issues before they become major problems. You may notice some of these issues yourself and be unsure of how to deal with them; others, you may not notice at all. Rest assured that our technicians will make sure every component of your HVAC system is ready for winter. Here’s a checklist of items our team can take care of for you: Clean Furnace and Check Operation/Filter: We will remove soot, dust, and debris from your furnace and ensure proper functioning throughout the appliance. Clean Air Conditioner and Check Operation: We will remove dirt and dust from the indoor air handler, improving efficiency and airflow. Clean Outdoor Condenser and Check Refrigerant Charge: We will remove dirt, leaves, and other debris from the condenser coils and check refrigerant levels. Clean Air Exchange Filters and Core: We will remove dust and other contaminants and clean the core to prevent mold and bacteria growth. Check Radiant In-Floor Heating System : We will check the pressure of your in-floor heating system and make sure it is operating at maximum efficiency. Check Humidifier Filter and Drain Line: We can replace your filter if needed to prevent dry air and ensure comfortable humidity levels during the cold months ahead. Check Unit Heater Operation: We will ensure all components of your heater are functioning properly, including ignition, burner operation, and heat output. Clean Fireplace and Check Operation: We can remove soot and debris from your fireplace and make sure it’s safe to use, so you can stay warm by the fire all winter. Call WestAIR Today for More HVAC Winterization Tips Winter can wreak havoc on the unprepared HVAC system. But hopefully these HVAC winterization tips will come in handy, helping you prepare for the cold while saving money. To avoid emergency breakdowns and high energy costs, call our professional technicians for a full inspection and service.

6 Ways to Improve Indoor Air Quality

August 9, 2024

On average, Americans spend approximately 90 percent of their time indoors . That means maintaining good indoor air quality , or IAQ, is absolutely critical for staying in good health. Poor IAQ can cause and exacerbate a variety of health issues, including headaches, fatigue, trouble concentrating, and irritation of the eyes, nose, throat, and lungs. Fortunately, modern technology has introduced several new ways to improve indoor air quality. With the addition of a couple of easy strategies that anyone can do, you’ll be breathing clean air in your home all year round. Install an Air Exchanger Modern homes are well-sealed and insulated to preserve temperature and energy efficiency, but this does have a downside. A tightly sealed home keeps fresh outdoor air out, while trapping stale indoor air inside. An air exchanger remedies this by delivering clean, filtered outdoor air to your home while exhausting indoor air, contaminants, and excess humidity. At WestAIR , we proudly install the Lifebreath® Ventilation System, which provides a continuous flow of air to prevent stagnation, reduce humidity, and expel gaseous pollutants. Install an Air Cleaner Indoor air tends to be much more polluted than outdoor air, often containing copious amounts of dust, pollen, spores, and other particles. An air cleaner traps dust and other irritating particles, allowing the newly cleaned air to circulate throughout your home. We provide and install AprilAire ® non-electronic and electronic air cleaners, both of which trap particles effectively and efficiently. In fact, AprilAire air cleaners trap 98 percent of visible airborne dust and other large particles while permanently capturing at least 97 percent of airborne pollen-sized particles. Install a Whole House Humidifier While not as much of an issue during the summer, our long cold seasons in Minnesota drastically reduce the moisture in the air in our homes. This dry air causes many adverse health effects, including nose, throat, and skin discomfort. Dry air can even damage wood framing and harm expensive electronics. A humidifier forces dry air through its water panel evaporator, adding moisture to your air and keeping your home at proper humidity levels. At WestAIR, we provide and install AprilAire and Honeywell® humidifiers, both of which have proven to be effective solutions to dry air. Install a UV Light Air Purifier This type of purifier produces UV rays that break through an organism’s cell wall to sufficiently damage or destroy its DNA, rendering it unable to reproduce. This is particularly effective at removing airborne pathogens such as viruses, bacteria, mold, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). We are proud to be an authorized installer of BreatheCLEAN™ UV air purification systems , which install easily into your existing ductwork. The BreatheCLEAN features two 36-watt bulbs that destroy nearly all airborne disease-causing organisms. Take Advantage of Natural Ventilation One of the easiest ways to improve indoor air quality is to open up your home to outdoor air. Keep your windows and doors open when the weather is nice to allow air to cycle through. Try to do this for at least 10 minutes every day, even in the winter. During the summer, you can open your windows but keep the blinds partially closed to benefit from the fresh air without increasing heat gain from the sun. Reduce Pollutants at Their Sources The most direct way to combat indoor air pollution is by tackling them at their sources. This can be as simple as vacuuming and dusting regularly and refraining from smoking inside your home. If your home has insulation containing asbestos, seal off that area. The American Lung Association also recommends using safer cleaning alternatives when cleaning your home , such as soap and water, vinegar, and baking soda. Protect Your Home with WestAIR Stale indoor air poses many risks to your health. But with these six ways to improve indoor air quality, your home will be full of clean, fresh air. The professionals at WestAir Heating & Cooling have the experience and know-how to recommend and install the best air cleaning devices in your home so that you can have peace of mind. Call us at 763.498.8071 or visit our contact page to make an appointment.

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