How Weather Impacts Your HVAC System

When the weather gets tough, homeowners all over the country rely on their HVAC systems to keep their homes safe and comfortable. However, the weather outside can have a big effect on the performance and energy efficiency of your HVAC systems, making it essential for homeowners to have at least a basic understanding of how the weather affects their heating and cooling systems. 

So, how does the weather affect your HVAC systems, and how can you do your best to protect them when harsh weather conditions arise? 

Extremely Hot or Cold Temperatures

Whether you are dealing with a summer heat wave or frigidly cold temperatures during the winter, both of these extreme temperatures can have a huge effect on your cooling and heating systems.  

When it gets too hot or cold, you will most likely be running your heating or air conditioning system through all hours of the day and night, which can cause your systems to be overworked, ultimately increasing wear and tear. Over time, the more you work your system, the less efficient it will be, leading to higher energy bills. 

Still, overworking your system is not the only thing you have to worry about. Extremely hot or cold temperatures can also potentially cause physical damage to your system’s outdoor components, including air conditioner condensers and exhaust vents, through melting, warping, and freezing.

Heavy Rain and Flooding

While outdoor HVAC components like air conditioner condensers are designed to be able to handle normal rainfall, extended heavy rainfall and flooding can pose a significant threat to your HVAC systems.

The outdoor parts of your HVAC systems contain a variety of electrical components that are needed to run the systems, so if too much water leaks into the system, it can lead to a number of problems, the most common of which is the complete destruction of these electrical components.

Flooding exponentially increases these risks and can even rip and carry away parts of your heating or air conditioning system completely, potentially leading to the need for costly repairs or even entirely replacing the unit altogether.

Lightning

Lighting is another hazard that can cause significant damage as well. Even though it may be unlikely that your system sustains a direct hit from lightning, even indirect hits can fry the electrical components of your heating or air conditioning system in an instant. 

Snow, Frost, and Ice

Winter can be a particularly difficult time for your HVAC systems, with the outside components of your HVAC systems, including air conditioner condensers and heat pumps, being especially vulnerable to the water and ice damage caused by freezing temperatures and winter precipitation. 

However, even the indoor elements of your HVAC systems can be affected by winter weather. When snow and ice block your furnace’s exhaust vents, the poor ventilation can lead to significant decreases in efficiency and reduced indoor air quality.

Hail

Hail is one of the least common types of winter precipitation. However, when it comes to your HVAC systems, it can easily be one of the most dangerous.

Along with all the other risks that come with cold weather precipitation, like water and ice damage and exhaust vent blockage, heavy hail can cause extensive physical damage to air conditioning condenser units and other outdoor HVAC components.

That being said, the threat that hail poses to these outdoor components depends largely on how exposed they are. For example, if your air conditioning condenser is located under the cover of a porch, deck, or some other structure, it will be significantly more protected from the effects of hail than if it is simply exposed on the side of your home.

Strong Winds

While many homeowners might not think much about it being a bit windy outside, strong winds can still have an effect on a home’s HVAC systems. However, unless the wind gets strong enough to loosen and tear away parts of the outdoor components of your HVAC system, the effect wind has is typically indirect. 

Strong winds can pick up everything from dust and dirt to small stones and other debris, all of which can clog up air filters, cover air conditioning condenser coils, and otherwise obstruct airflow, reducing efficiency and negatively affecting indoor air quality.

Smog and Smoke

Whether from air pollution or wildfires, it is no secret that smog and smoke are becoming more common occurrences for many all over the country. However, while most homeowners might not give these things much thought, high levels of smog and smoke can cause a number of problems for your HVAC systems.

Smog and smoke are air contaminants just like dust or mold, and as they enter your HVAC system, they can cause your system’s air filters to clog up much faster than normal while also covering its condenser coils. Again, this can cause huge reductions in the operating efficiency of your heating and air conditioning systems, leading to increased wear and tear and higher energy bills, while also significantly reducing the indoor air quality in your home.

How Should You Protect Your HVAC Systems From Harsh Weather?

With so many different weather conditions to worry about, it is essential that homeowners do whatever they can to protect their heating and air conditioning systems.

As you might have noticed, many of the issues caused by harsh weather conditions have to do with contaminants clogging up air filters, so changing these filters regularly is a great way to protect your HVAC systems.

You should also properly insulate the outdoor components of your system to prevent them from freezing and ensure that all air intakes and exhausts are clear of debris, snow, and ice so that your heating and air conditioning systems can work as efficiently as possible. 

However, while these preparative measures can go a long way to protecting your HVAC systems from the elements, by far, the best way to make sure that your systems are ready for harsh weather is to contact a professional HVAC service company like Chester County Fuel Oil to keep up with routine maintenance for you.

Proper HVAC maintenance requires much more than just regularly replacing the air filter, and professional HVAC technicians are much better equipped to provide the necessary service and care required to keep an HVAC system in peak working condition.

A well-maintained heater or air conditioner will always be better prepared to take on severe weather than one that isn’t, and from annual tune-ups and cleanings to replacing old or broken parts, there’s no shortage of services that a professional HVAC technician can provide to ensure that your systems are ready for anything.

Chester County Fuel Oil is the Most Trusted HVAC Contractor in Chester County, PA

No matter what the weather is like outside, it’s important to make sure that your heating and air conditioning systems are in peak condition when you need them most, which is where Chester County Fuel Oil comes in. 

Chester County Fuel Oil is the leading HVAC company in West Chester and the surrounding area, providing top-of-the-line professional HVAC services that make it easy for residential and commercial customers to ensure their HVAC systems are ready for anything. 

With decades of industry experience and a passionate team of best-in-the-business HVAC technicians, Chester County Fuel Oil is uniquely qualified to meet all your HVAC needs. So, if you want to make sure that your Chester County home stays safe and comfortable all year round, here are just a few ways that Chester County Fuel Oil can help. 

Comprehensive Maintenance and Repair Services for All Types of Heating and Air Conditioning Systems 

From preventative maintenance to emergency repairs, the team at Chester County Fuel Oil is always ready to ensure that your HVAC systems are in peak working condition. Their team of highly trained technicians are experts in all types of HVAC systems, including air conditioners, gas furnaces, electric furnaces, heat pumps, and more, and can quickly diagnose and repair problems as soon as they arise. 

With affordable prices that make keeping up with routine maintenance more manageable, flexible scheduling that keeps everything as convenient as possible, and 24/7 quick response heating and air conditioning repair services available around the clock, Chester County Fuel Oil makes taking care of your HVAC systems a breeze.

Convenient and Affordable Service Contracts

The best way to ensure that your HVAC systems are ready for anything is to make sure that they receive all the essential maintenance they need before they have the chance to break down, but with so many other things to worry about, keeping track of your maintenance needs yourself can be challenging.

The Team at Chester County Fuel Oil knows this better than anyone, and they address this issue by offering a variety of convenient and affordable service contracts that make keeping up with routine preventative maintenance easier than ever.

Starting as low as $159.00 per year, Chester County Fuel Oil offers service contracts for all the most common types of HVAC systems, including gas furnaces and boilers, air conditioners, oil burners, and heat pumps, all of which include services like annual tune-ups and cleanings, efficiency tests, and coverage for a number of essential parts.

They even allow their customers to bundle coverage for their hot water heaters, adding even more value and convenience to their already amazing standard service contracts. So, if you are a Chester County home or business owner who wants to ensure that your HVAC systems are always ready to handle whatever the weather throws at them, there is no better way to do it than with a service contract from Chester County Fuel Oil.

Heater, Air Conditioner, HVAC Install Chester County

Do you have a broken air conditioner that needs to be replaced or want to upgrade to a more modern and efficient system? Chester County Fuel Oil heating and air conditioning installation services have you covered. 

Ensuring proper installation is one of the best ways to ensure that your HVAC systems are ready for anything, and with Chester County Fuel Oil on your side, proper installation is always a guarantee.

Chester County Fuel Oil’s team of highly trained HVAC technicians have decades of experience between them and have completed hundreds of successful heater, air conditioner, and heat pump installation projects all over the Chester County area. And that’s not to mention all the guidance and advice their knowledgeable team will give you beforehand to make sure that you pick a new system that meets all your specific HVAC needs.

With extensive expertise, an unmatched customer service experience, countless happy customers, and a reputation for providing quality installations every time, you can rest assured that your new HVAC unit will be ready for any challenge.

Contact Chester County Fuel Oil Today

Do you want to make sure your heating and air conditioning systems are ready to take on whatever harsh weather gets thrown at them? Give Chester County Fuel Oil a call. Their friendly and knowledgeable team is always happy to answer your questions and tell you more about how they can help you meet all your HVAC needs.

They’ll even offer you a free estimate so that you know exactly how much everything will cost beforehand. So, don’t trust your HVAC systems with anyone but the best that Chester County has to offer. Call Chester County Fuel Oil and take the first step toward a stress-free year-round comfort today!