November is HVAC Winter Preparation

History & Significance

The importance of HVAC winter preparation dates back to the invention of early heating systems, such as fireplaces and wood-burning stoves, which evolved into more sophisticated systems like steam radiators in the 19th century. With the rise of modern HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) systems in the 20th century, seasonal maintenance became essential for homeowners and businesses alike.

Winter poses unique challenges—freezing temperatures, snow, and fluctuating humidity—all of which can strain heating systems. HVAC winter prep emerged as a critical practice to ensure systems remain reliable throughout the season, preventing unexpected breakdowns and minimizing energy waste. Today, it’s not just a maintenance task but a proactive effort to improve system efficiency, reduce energy bills, and increase indoor air quality during the colder months.

Key Themes & Focus Areas

Several themes guide HVAC winter preparation, ensuring that systems are ready to perform efficiently and safely:

• System Inspection & Maintenance: Routine inspections detect small issues, such as worn parts or leaks, before they escalate into larger problems. Preventive maintenance includes cleaning filters, testing thermostats, and ensuring ducts are sealed properly.
• Energy Efficiency: Calibrating thermostats and upgrading to smart systems can optimize heating schedules to avoid unnecessary energy use. Adding insulation to ducts and sealing leaks ensures warm air is distributed effectively throughout the building.
• Safety Measures: Carbon monoxide checks are essential, especially for gas furnaces. Installing or testing carbon monoxide detectors adds another layer of protection. Ensuring proper ventilation prevents hazardous gases from building up inside the home or facility.
• Weatherproofing: Weather stripping windows and doors prevents drafts and reduces the workload on heating systems. Installing storm windows or thermal curtains can further insulate indoor spaces.

Why It Matters

Failing to prepare HVAC systems for winter can lead to discomfort, safety risks, and higher utility bills. Reliability is crucial during extreme cold weather, as it prevents unexpected system failures when heating is most needed. Proper preparation improves energy efficiency, which can significantly reduce heating costs by ensuring the system runs optimally. It also enhances indoor comfort, maintaining consistent warmth and proper humidity levels to prevent cold spots and dry air.

Safety is another essential aspect of HVAC winter prep. It ensures good indoor air quality and minimizes the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning or fire hazards. Additionally, preparing systems reduces the environmental impact by conserving energy, helping to lower carbon footprints during the energy-intensive winter months.

How to Participate

Whether you’re a homeowner or a building manager, you can take the following steps to prepare for winter:

1. Schedule Professional Maintenance: Have an HVAC technician perform a seasonal check-up to clean, test, and repair any issues in your system.
2. Replace Air Filters: Clean or replace filters every 30-90 days to maintain airflow and prevent strain on the system.
3. Seal Leaks and Drafts: Use weather stripping and caulk to seal doors, windows, and ducts.
4. Test the Thermostat: Ensure your thermostat is functioning correctly. Consider upgrading to a smart thermostat for better control.
5. Clear Vents and Outdoor Units: Remove obstructions from air vents inside and debris from outdoor units to maintain airflow.
6. Check Safety Devices: Replace batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors to ensure they work properly.

Conclusion

Preparing your HVAC system for winter isn’t just a recommendation—it’s a necessity for maintaining comfort, safety, and energy efficiency during the cold months. With a focus on inspection, maintenance, energy conservation, and safety measures, HVAC winter prep ensures systems run efficiently and reliably. Proactive participation can save you from unexpected repairs and high energy bills, while also contributing to a safer, healthier indoor environment. Taking these steps early allows you to relax and enjoy the winter season, knowing that your HVAC system is ready to keep you warm and secure.

Featured Solution Selling Show Supplier: Cadet Heat

(This section will cover a different supplier each month that has been a guest on our podcast)

First appearance on show HERE

Second appearance on show HERE

Cadet Heat is a high-quality HVAC brand specializing in compact and efficient heating solutions. Known for their wall heaters, baseboard heaters, and electric heating units, Cadet Heat focuses on products designed to optimize comfort in both residential and commercial spaces. Their products are especially favored for their easy installation, energy efficiency, and sleek designs that blend seamlessly into various environments. With a strong emphasis on safety and performance, Cadet Heat has become a trusted name in cold-weather climates, helping customers maintain cozy indoor temperatures even during the harshest seasons.

Founded in 1957, Cadet Heat has grown from a small operation in Vancouver, Washington, to a well-established brand recognized across North America. The company prioritizes sustainability and innovation, offering heating solutions that meet modern environmental standards without sacrificing reliability or affordability. Cadet Heat’s commitment to customer service, combined with a focus on user-friendly products, makes them a preferred choice for contractors, homeowners, and facility managers alike.

Key Products & Their Benefits

• Electric Baseboard Heaters: An economical electric heating solution. Built out of quality materials, the made-in-USA electric baseboard heaters are long-lasting products. The Cadet baseboard heaters come in a variety of sizes and make it easy to replace existing models in your facility. Take the chill out of any room with a Cadet baseboard heater. Enjoy the simple warmth of reliable, quiet convection heat.

• Electric In-Wall Fan Forced Heaters: Get warm on your terms with Cadet's most popular wall heater. The Com-Pak is an efficient, affordable way to add warmth without installing ductwork. Cadet's hard wired heaters have proven safety features and multiple installation options, so your customer's can enjoy safe, sensible warmth for years. The Com-Pak electric wall heater is a popular fan-forced unit that is ideal for many different sized spaces. With a fast-heating element, the Com-Pak provides quiet, efficient warmth. Proudly assembled in the USA, Cadet's Com-Pak series comes in a multitude of wattage's so that you can find the right fit for your customer's space.

Grainger KnowHow Articles

A Preventive Maintenance Checklist

HVAC Winter Prep and Maintenance

When Is it Time to Replace Your Aging HVAC System?

Reading Corner

(This section covers what I am currently reading each month)

Business Book

My next Business Book to read in November is Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action.

Earlier this year I read another Simon Sinek book, Leaders Eat Last: Why Some Teams Pull Together and Others Don't and absolutely LOVED IT! I am really looking forward to checking this one out as well as the rest of his books.

I love his overall message he provides and follow him here on LinkedIn and recommend you do to.

Recreational Read

I am still reading Bill O'Reilly's, Killing Lincoln, and am loving it! I have learned a LOT more about the death of Lincoln than what I was taught in school.

I am beginning to think that next year I will change my method of reading books, both business and recreational.

In 2023 I read one book a month and alternated each month from a Business Book to a Recreational Read. So that year I read six Business Books, and six Recreational Reads

In 2024 (so far) I read one Business Book every month, and ONLY read my Recreational Reads on the weekend with no time restrictions. So I will have read 12 Business Books, and so far six (including KL) Recreational Reads.

Maybe in 2025 I will read one Recreational Read every month, and Business Books on the weekends ONLY........

Monthly Quote

"Peering from some high window, at the gold of November sunset and feeling that if day has to become night, this is a beautiful way" - E. E. Cummings

James' Jam: Winter!

Winter casts a magical spell over the landscape, transforming the world into a serene, snowy paradise. A fresh blanket of snow covers the ground, sparkling under the soft light of day and glowing beneath the moon at night. Trees stand tall, their branches frosted with delicate layers of ice. The air is crisp and invigorating, every breath reminding you that life, even in its stillest moments, is full of energy. There’s something deeply calming about the peace and quiet that settles over the land, muffling sounds and slowing time.

Winter also brings a unique kind of joy—one best experienced outdoors with family and friends. There’s nothing quite like the laughter that fills the air while building snowmen with the kids. Sledding down powdery hills adds a rush of excitement, the cold wind in your face. Winter hikes, too, offer a quiet adventure—crunching snow beneath your boots (one of my favorite sounds!), spotting animal tracks, and taking in the beauty of frost-covered trees and frozen streams. These moments become cherished memories of mine.

Inside, the warmth of a crackling fire (when I visit my parents house for I do not have a fireplace) offers comfort from the cold, drawing loved ones together for quiet moments of reflection or joyful conversation. The contrast of cozy interiors against the winter chill outside makes everything feel more intimate—hot cocoa tastes richer, blankets feel softer, and a simple night in, feels special. Winter’s cold temperatures invite us to embrace stillness, to take a break from the rush and appreciate life’s quieter joys. It’s a season for rest, contemplation, and appreciating beauty in simplicity, as the world waits patiently beneath its snowy quilt for spring’s return.

The season encourages a balance of fun and reflection, with outdoor adventures followed by warm evenings by the fire. The cold air brings people closer, inviting us to slow down, enjoy simple pleasures, and embrace the magic found in both the lively and the tranquil moments winter offers. In these experiences—whether sledding with loved ones or sipping cocoa afterward—winter creates space for joy, connection, and lasting memories.