Trust us, we’ve seen some pretty scary stuff in this business. If there’s one thing we know for certain, it can be awfully tough to raise a broken system from the dead. October marks the season of system replacement, and you should see Reliant Man running around here like he’s the Rick Grimes of HVAC. Let’s just hypothetically imagine for a moment that your system does break down at the worst time. You know, in the midst of a ice storm, severe weather, or maybe even a zombie apocalypse. It’s best to always be prepared, right? (And Halloween is also around the corner, so we get to have a little fun.) While you find yourself waiting on your power to be restored or for your everyday heroes here at Reliant AC to arrive on the scene with your new system, here are a few tips for keeping your home comfortable while off the grid.
When The Lights Go Out (So Does The Heat)
Unless you’re running some fancy solar-powered system, most HVAC systems – including your furnace – require electricity to function. It’s all fine and dandy until you experience a power outage, then it’s to each his own. In most cases, you’ll lose power for a few hours, but the DFW Metroplex is no stranger to the occasional multi-day, total power outage events. Bad things can happen, and the very young and elderly are especially prone to the hazards of a power outage during freezing cold temperatures. If you’re thinking about committing to a portable or standby generator, now is the time to check one out.
Got A Fireplace?
You’re in luck, especially if it’s wood-burning. Though a fireplace isn’t good at heating your entire home, you can manage to heat a single room and maintain a solid comfortable room temperature. Most of the heat will escape through the chimney, but you can prep yourself with special fireplace inserts to increase efficiency that you can purchase at most home improvement stores. Make sure, however that your fireplace is in good working order if you intend on using it during the cold months at all – power outage or no. Ever heard of a Franklin Stove? This article from Popular Mechanics includes a great description if you want to go full-on prepper mode before the winter months.
I’m Soakin’ It In Kerosene
Yep, a good old-fashioned kerosene heater can be quite effective in a pinch, no electricity required. Not only are they clean burning, these little guys can produce quite the heat. They’re also quite efficient, as you can take full advantage of all of the heat they produce without much loss. The primary problem? Fuel. It you’re going to use one for an extended period of time, you’re going to have to load up on the canisters. The other primary issue is the risk of carbon monoxide gas, so you’ll want to follow your kerosene heater’s instructions exactly as they’re written. That’s not to mention risk of combustion or explosion (which is the reason they’re sometimes outlawed for use in residential areas) or burns, so just use common sense and follow all safety precautions if you must use one in an emergency.
Your best bet? Make sure you take care of that fall tune-up so you can avoid a sudden system breakdown in the first place. We definitely can’t control the weather (though Reliant Man has tried; we’ll save that story for another day) but we can inspect your system and catch any potential problems or risk of system malfunction to help you avoid dependence on any source of heat other than your home’s HVAC during a cold, hard freeze. You don’t want to wait until you actually have to depend on your furnace before discovering that something’s broken or malfunctioning. What’s the solution? Prevent your home from getting cold in the first place.
Contact Reliant Air Conditioning today and get that fall tune-up scheduled before the first cold snap of the year arrives! We make it convenient to sign up online for our Hero Club, which will ultimately help you save money and protect your HVAC system investment.
We take our jobs seriously around here at Reliant Air Conditioning. We’re the company for AC service, heating and air conditioning replacement, and HVAC service Fort Worth and Dallas choose time and time again because we’re dependable, we’re fair, and we don’t partake in misleading gimmicks. So call two other companies, then give us a call. You’ll be glad you did.
