Cost Savings with Proper HVAC and Plumbing Systems in Winter

By Todd Jameson, Superior Water & Air

HVAC and plumbing maintenance is critical during the coldest months of the year. Utah winters bring freezing temperatures and heavy snowfall. Your HVAC and plumbing systems work hard to keep your home warm and your water flowing. This extra demand increases the risk of higher utility bills and equipment breakdowns.

Proactive maintenance makes a big difference during the winter. Regular furnace tune-ups and monitoring your water heater can save you thousands in repair costs and extend the life of your systems. Preventing problems is always easier and less expensive than fixing them later.

At Superior Water & Air, we’ve been trusted by Utah homeowners for decades to keep their plumbing and HVAC systems running. Below are best practices and tips to help save money and stay warm during winter.

Utah Winters Present Unique Challenges

Utah winters are some of the harshest in the country. Freezing temperatures and heavy snowfall push HVAC systems to their limits, running them almost nonstop to keep your home warm. This constant strain increases energy costs and furnace breakdowns more likely. Without regular maintenance, your heating system may struggle to keep up when you need it most.

Winter also brings unique challenges for plumbing systems. Utah’s water is extremely hard, which compounds issues in the cold. When temperatures drop, untreated hard water can damage water heaters. This leads to mineral buildup that lowers efficiency and shortens their lifespan.

Below are three cost saving HVAC tips for winter that can help.

3 Cost-Saving HVAC Tips for Winter

Maintain a 3-Degree Thermostat Range

Keeping your thermostat set within a three-degree range can save energy and reduce wear on your furnace. Constantly raising and lowering the temperature makes your HVAC system work harder, shortening its life and raising your utility bills.

• Avoid large temperature swings: to save energy and reduce furnace wear.
• Car on cruise control: steady operation is more efficient than frequent changes.
• Benefits: lower energy waste, extended system life, and consistent comfort.

Think of it like using cruise control in your car. A steady speed is easier on the engine than speeding up and slowing down constantly.

Schedule Seasonal Furnace Maintenance

Seasonal tune-ups are essential for keeping your furnace running efficiently all winter. A technician can clean internal components, check for wear, and ensure everything is running smoothly. 

The car metaphor helps hoemowners understand this more. It’s like how a car gets better gas mileage when it’s tuned up.

Maintenance Tips: 

• Regular tune-ups: ensure peak efficiency and identifyl issues.
• Schedule mid-search check: along with your furnace tuneup.

Getting this done before winter hits can help prevent costly mid-season breakdowns. But it’s also a good investment to schedule a mid-winter tuneup as well. If your furnace is overworked and heading towards an unexpected breakdown, it’s always better to know that as soon as possible.

Address Uneven Heating Issues

If some parts of your home feel colder than others during the winter, it’s often a sign of ductwork issues or an improperly balanced system. Homeowners sometimes try to fix this by closing vents in warmer rooms, but this only worsens the problem.

Closing vents is like putting a rubber band around your circulatory system—it restricts airflow and puts extra strain on your system. Instead, have a professional inspect your ducts or recalculate your home’s heat load.

Tips to Address Uneven Heating: 

• Uneven heating: often indicates ductwork problems or an unbalanced system.
• Avoid closing vents:: as this restricts airflow and increases system strain.
• Solution: have a professional inspect ducts and adjust the system for better efficiency.

Addressing these issues early can improve comfort, reduce strain on your furnace, and save energy in the long run.

Protect Your Plumbing: Winter Tips to Avoid Costly Repairs

Next, we’ll look at how to protect your plumbing system from winter’s unique challenges and prevent costly damage.

Your plumbing system also is met with unique challenges during Utah’s winter months. Frozen pipes, hard water buildup, and increased hot water usage can strain your home. With the right preparation, you can avoid costly repairs and keep your water flowing.

Protect Your Pipes from Freezing

Freezing temperatures can cause water in pipes to freeze and expand. This leads to cracks or bursts. Older homes and uninsulated areas like basements are especially at risk.

Tips to prevent freezing:

• Insulate pipes: Foam insulation is cheap and easy to install.
• Let faucets drip: Keep water moving during extreme cold.
• Seal drafts: Close gaps near pipes with weather stripping or caulk.

Frozen pipes are common and expensive to fix. A little preparation goes a long way. Keeping water moving through the pipes is one of the easiest and best ways to prevent this costly issue from happening in your home. 

Address Hard Water Problems

Utah’s hard water can wreak havoc in winter. Water heaters work harder to meet higher demand. Mineral buildup reduces efficiency and shortens lifespan.

Hard water shaves years off life of water heater, plumbing, fixtures and is detrimental to all water-using appliances. 

How to fix hard water issues:

• Install a water softener: This removes damaging minerals.
• Flush your water heater: A professional can clear out deposits.

A water softener protects your plumbing and saves money. It reduces wear and extends the life of your entire system.

3. Check Your Water Heater

Your water heater does extra work in the winter. Without maintenance, the increased demand can lead to breakdowns.

Flush your water heater yearly. It clears mineral buildup and keeps it running efficiently.

Steps to winterize your water heater:

• Get a tune-up: A professional can check for leaks and flush the tank.
• Set the temperature: Keep it at 120°F for efficiency and safety.
• Insulate the tank: This reduces energy use and retains heat.

Replacing a water heater is expensive. Proper care can extend its life and save you money. Protecting your pipes, addressing hard water, and maintaining your water heater can prevent costly repairs. A little effort now can save you thousands later.

4. Avoid Common Plumbing Mistakes

Taking shortcuts can cause more harm than good. Here’s what to avoid:

• Don’t close vents or faucets: This disrupts flow and increases pressure.
• Don’t pour grease down the drain: It hardens in cold temperatures and clogs pipes.
• Check for leaks: Small drips can turn into big problems.

Pouring grease down the drain might be tempting on Thanksgiving or when cooking for large groups of people during the holidays. But think twice before doing so, because it could cause major problems. 

Contact Us

Winter puts extra stress on HVAC and plumbing systems. Simple steps like insulating pipes and tuning up your furnace improve efficiency and reduce energy costs.

At Superior Water & Air, we help Utah homeowners prepare for winter. From furnace tune-ups to water softeners, our team is ready to assist.

Contact us today to schedule your winter checkup. Protect your home and stay comfortable all season long.