It’s that time of year!  The temperature is dropping.  The days are getting shorter.  Leaves are blowing around the yard.  But most important to me, the family is getting together to celebrate the holidays.  I love this time of year!

This seasonal change will result in my furnace being called upon to work “full time”.  My utility bills will reflect this.  To keep energy costs to a minimum, our heating systems must operate as efficiently as possible.  One way to help assure efficient operation is to minimize static pressure.  That is, keep filters, coils, plenums, ducts, registers, and returns clean. Replace filters as they become dirty.  Vacuum registers and returns to allow free air flow.  Periodically, the ducts should be professionally cleaned to remove any accumulation of dirt.

During the holiday seasons we have a lot more traffic at our house.  The kids, grandkids, and their pets track-in more “stuff” from outside than what my wife and I normally do.  We burn candles for that fresh, seasonal smell.  The fireplace is crackling providing that warm ambience on a cold day.  There seems to be an endless amount of food being cooked and baked in the kitchen.  All of these contribute to an increased presence of dust and dirt, pet dander, hair, fur, soot, smoke, ash, and other contaminants in the air.  All of these residual elements can lead to a dirtier heating system, resulting in increased static pressure.

The increase in static pressure can result in less air flow and less comfort throughout the house.  A decrease in airflow will also result in less load on the blower.  Less load on the blower can result in an increase in capacitor amps.  An increase in capacitor amps can result in capacitor and motor failure.

So, what can be done?  Don’t have people over for the holidays?  NO!!!  Enjoy this season!  Celebrate with the family!  But change the filters more frequently during this period of high activity.