Getting Your Home Ready for the Holidays

Preparing your home for the holidays doesn’t just involve cleaning and decorating, you’ll also want to have all of your appliances in top shape to handle the extra holiday traffic. Start now to clean and maintain your appliances and heating system so you’ll safely enjoy the holidays this year.

Tune Up Your Heating System

Getting your heating system in top shape is essential for smoothly navigating the holiday season. Keeping your family and guests comfortable by having your HVAC system professionally cleaned and maintained will allow you to focus on entertainment and enjoying the holiday season.

Schedule a heating system tune-up by Sears now, and our technician will visit your home to perform these maintenance and cleaning steps.

Gas Furnace Maintenance

Here’s what to expect when a Sears Technician visits your home to conduct cleaning and maintenance on a gas furnace.

• Check the thermostat. The tech will check the wiring and proper operation of the thermostat so you won’t have any problems in the dead of winter.
• Replace the air filter. Unless you’ve already replaced it, the technician will install a new air filter so the vents and heat exchanger get proper air flow.
• Check electrical connections. Loose or broken wires can wreak havoc in your furnace. The problems may not surface right away. Having the wiring checked by a professional each year will help avoid heating system breakdowns in the dead of winter.
• Make sure the system controls and safety circuits work properly. Controls and safety circuits keep your furnace working properly to avoid a house fire or the buildup of dangerous carbon monoxide. Keep your household safe by having the system checked by a professional every year.
• Check and lubricate the blower motor if necessary. Lubricating the blower motor will keep it working smoothly and efficiently. Proper lubrication will also help the blower motor last longer.
• Inspect gas line connections and burner operation. Leaking gas line connections can cause a fire and improper flames can emit carbon monoxide. Having the system checked by a Sears Technician will help keep your home safe.
• Check flue piping. The flue pipe system vents exhaust gas from the burner to the outside of your home to prevent the buildup of carbon monoxide in your home. Having a technician check the exhaust system of the furnace will ensure that the system operates safely.

Keep your home safe and comfortable by having your gas furnace checked every fall.

Heat Pump Maintenance

Here’s the procedure that you’ll see a Sears Technician follow when maintaining and cleaning a heat pump:

• Check the thermostat. The technician will typically begin by checking thermostat operation and wiring to make sure that the system control calls for heat in the heating mode.
• Replace the air filter. The tech will install a new air filter if needed so the heat exchanger gets proper air flow.
• Check electrical connections. Electrical connections and relays in a heat pump are crucial to proper heating operation. The technician will look for problems in wiring and contacts that could lead to problems during the winter.
• Lubricate the blower motor if necessary. The blower inside the indoor unit occasionally need lubrication. The tech will check the blower fan and its motor – lubricating parts if necessary. This will help keep the blower working efficiently all winter long.
• Make sure the system controls and safety circuits work properly. The heat pump system has safety circuits and controls that keep it operating safely and efficiently. The technician will check the operation of controls to ensure that the system works properly and safely.
• Measure air flow through the evaporator. The technician will check the air flow going through the evaporator fins and look for bent or damaged fins that could restrict air flow. Proper air flow through the evaporator is essential for proper heating throughout your home.
• Check the auxiliary heating element. Most of the time, the auxiliary heating element won’t be needed in your home. The technician checks this element to make sure it works properly if and when it gets extremely cold.
• Examine the outside condenser unit. Proper performance of the outside condenser unit and compressor is essential for efficient heat pump operation. While examining the outside condenser unit, the tech will:
  • Check pressures in the sealed system.
  • Make sure that the compressor is running properly.
  • Check wiring, the condenser fan and the capacitor.
  • Lubricate the fan if necessary.
  • Wash the condenser fins if necessary.

Having your heating system professionally checked and maintained will make sure that you’ll get the heat you need to stay safe and comfortable when cold weather hits your area during the holidays.

Maintain Your Appliances

Appliances don’t just need cleaning, they also need professional maintenance to stay in top shape for the holidays. Sears makes this task easy for you by bundling all home appliance maintenance into one convenient visit.

Schedule your Kitchen & Laundry Appliance Check-up now and our Sears Technician visit your home and perform a 64-point inspection on your refrigerator, range, dishwasher, washer and clothes dryer.

Get a Whole-Home Back-Up Generator

To provide the most safety and comfort for your family and guests during the holidays, install a Cummins Whole-House Back-Up Generator because no matter where you live, you’re always at risk for loss of electrical power.

You typically don’t even think about power outages until you experience one. Once you’re without power, you’ll encounter many problems that you’ll wish you could avoid—unless you have a whole house back-up generator.

Here are some ways that you can help keep your family and guests safer and more comfortable during the holidays when you have a whole-home back-up generator.

Keep Your Heating System Working During a Power Outage

In climates that encounter extreme cold weather, keeping the furnace operating during a power outage is essential to survival. Keep your family and guests safe and comfortable during power outages by powering your HVAC system with a back-up generator.

Preserve Medication and Power Health Care Devices

When you store medication in the fridge for family or guests, a standby generator will automatically continue to power the refrigerator to preserve the medication properly.

If a family member or guest depends on electrically powered health care devices, you’ll want to protect their health with a back-up generator. A whole home generator will provide an uninterrupted power supply when a grid power outage occurs.

Power the Ground Well Water Supply and Septic System

When you have a ground well water supply, a power outage can knock out your water supply. Keep your well pump running using a back-up generator.

You definitely don’t want to face septic tank problems during a power outage. Keep septic system pumps and components working during a power outage by installing a whole-house back-up generator.

Keep the Sump Pump in the Basement Running

Lack of electrical power can cause your basement to flood when you depend on a sump pump to keep it dry. Avoid expensive water damage to your home by installing a whole home generator to automatically kick in and keep the sump pump running when a storm knocks out power.

Prepare now for potential power outages by scheduling a free in-home consultation with a home generator expert. We’ll examine your home’s power needs and provide back-up power supply solutions that will fit your budget.

Sears Home Services wants you to remain safe and comfortable for the holidays and beyond. Depend on us for the help you need to manage your home for years to come.