A “Sweet 16” HVAC New Year’s Resolutions

January 19, 2026

Have you made your New Year’s resolutions for 2026?  Most likely they will include some of the following: saving money, eating better, exercising, losing weight, learning new skills, reading more, and improving mental well-being. You probably haven’t made any resolutions related to your home’s heating and cooling systems.  So, we have taken the opportunity to give you our “sweet 16” HVAC resolutions.

  1. Preventative Maintenance. Have both your furnace and your air conditioner checked annually.  That will make sure your unit is ready when you need it and can prevent small problems that are low cost to fix from becoming bigger, more expensive problems. Plus, preventative maintenance is required to keep your warranty valid.
  2. Get a Maintenance Plan. You have a lot going on.  You might forget about having your HVAC products serviced.  With a maintenance plan, your contractor will call you and set a date for service.
  3. Change Your Air Filters. After maintenance, you will need to change your air filters to maintain performance, keep the air in your home clean and minimize the need for costly repairs.  1” thick filters should be changed monthly, 4” to 6” filters should be changed every 6 months.

The next few resolutions will also help you keep the air in your home clean.

  1. Keep Your Vents Clean. Cleaning your vents regularly will improve air quality by removing dirt and dust from your vents.
  2. Keep Your Ducts Clean. We’re not going to say, “keep your ducts in a row.” But keeping your ducts clean will allow your HVAC system to run more efficiently by ensuring the air coming into your living space is clean and healthy.
  3. Add House Plants. House plants can improve air quality.  There are numerous plants that can do this.
  4. Invest in Indoor Air Quality Products. Several products can improve indoor air quality, including air cleaners, air purifiers, dehumidifiers (for summer) and humidifiers (for winter), and UV air filters.

The following resolutions can reduce costs.

  1. Invest in a Wi-Fi Thermostat. A Wi-Fi (“smart”) thermostat allows you to adjust the temperature while you are at home or away through your mobile phone or tablet. You can also preprogram the thermostat to set different temperatures based upon time of day, day of week, etc. A smart thermostat can also alert you if the temperature drops below your desired setpoint (alerting you that the furnace is not working) or rises above your desired setpoint (alerting you that the air conditioning is not working) allowing you to repair the system before frozen pipes or sweltering heat cause damage to the house.
  2. Keep the Thermostat a Bit Higher in the Summer and a Bit Lower in the Winter. Even with a programmable thermostat, you can control costs even more by adjusting the temperature. This will also reduce stress on your HVAC system, perhaps extending its life.
  3. Make Sure Your Home is Well Insulated.  Insulation will keep the hot air out in the summer and the cold air out in the winter.  Your basement, garage and attic are all good candidates for insulation.
  4. Be a Fan of Fans. An attic fan will especially keep hot air from entering your home in the summer. Sure, ceiling fans keep you cool in the summer. But have them rotate clockwise in the winter as well to force warm air down.
  5. Windows. In the summer, keep blinds, shades and curtains closed during hot days to keep the sun from heating your home. But when the temperatures cool, open the windows to let that pleasant air in. In the winter, keep blinds, shades and curtains open during the day to let the sun warm your home.
  6. Blankets and Extra Clothing.  Add an extra blanket at night and an extra layer of clothes during the day during the winter so you can keep the thermostat a bit lower.
  7. Summer Cooking. To keep cool in the summer, cook outside to eliminate heat from the stove, oven and microwave.
  8. Zone. Consider a zoning system if your home has closed off rooms or multiple levels. These systems allow you to set different temperatures in different areas.
  9. Upgrade Your System. If your system is getting up there – especially 15 years or older- consider an upgrade.  A newer system will be much more energy-efficient, so you can recoup the cost through lower utility bills.  Also, a new system will be less likely to break down.

Resolve to Contact Ravinia Plumbing for Expert Heating and Cooling Assistance

Ravinia Plumbing, Sewer, Heating & Electric’s experienced HVAC technicians can maintain and make repairs to your existing heating and cooling system, and install new products as needed.  Our customers have relied on us since 1928 (that’s 98 years!) for quality products, knowledgeable technicians, and superior service, including 24/7/365 emergency service.  That is why we have made a name for ourselves as the most trusted plumbing, sewer, heating and air conditioning, and electrical company in Chicago’s North Shore and Northwest suburbs.  Contact us today to schedule an appointment.