Protecting your heating system during freezing temperatures

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - We’re in the middle of a subfreezing cold snap, but it looks like frozen pipes aren’t the concern yet for many in the CSRA.

Heating/ventilation/air conditioning systems are.

Temperatures and wind chills like can cause various parts of your outdoor HVAC unit to freeze.

When this happens, it affects the airflow.

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Not only does it reduce the system performance but it could burn a big hole in your wallet.

“If people have what’s called a heat pump system then the colder it gets outside, the outside unit will start to freeze a little more,” said Paul Zeaser, HVAC technician with CoolRay Mechanical.

They say best way to get a jumpstart on avoiding the freeze is to clear all debris around your system.

“In the fall, have your system serviced. Don’t wait until it’s 20 degrees outside to say ‘Oh, I need that system serviced,’” said Zeaser.

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He says you’ll want to make sure you change the filter and find a comfortable temperature to leave it on. He suggests 72.

“It’s best to find a temperature you like and keep it there, rather than turn it way down, and then turn it way up, because it’s just going to run even harder to try to maintain or get to where you set it up,” said Zeaser.

And if you see a little steam, don’t panic.

“A lot of times, we get a lot of calls that they see smoke come out of their unit, which we go out there and find no issues. That is not actually smoke. It’s a steam from where the ice is melting. So if you look out your window and hear unit making a loud noise and see steam coming off, that’s perfectly normal during this time of year,” said Zeaser.

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