Is your HVAC system ready for another polar vortex?

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Greater Cincinnati homeowners are no strangers to the cold winter weather, but is your furnace ready for another polar vortex? A polar vortex occurs when high-pressured fronts move into the North Pole, forcing a large, low-pressure, cold pocket of air to move south and dip into the warmer climates. Polar vortices are strictly cold fronts – they do not bring snow or rain with them but tend to coincide with winter weather and storms making a normal snowfall more dangerous if you are caught outside.

When extreme winter conditions affect your home, such as a polar vortex or other winter weather, it is important to ensure your heating system is properly working to keep the warm, cozy air inside and the cold air outdoors.  How can you keep your furnace ready for another shockingly cold spell?  

Start here: all furnaces, no matter their age, have a defrost cycle. On older modules, it is set by a mechanical timer while newer units are controlled by temperature sensors.  It is incredibly important to make sure the defrost cycle is working. Even though polar vortices are strictly cold weather fronts the extreme cold can cause any moisture in the air to freeze up. This defrost cycle will periodically go on and help defrost your system to keep it from freezing over and unable to run. If you notice the defrost cycle is not working, it is most likely due to an internal problem and you need an HVAC technician to inspect it.

Secondly, your HVAC system will be running continuously to keep up with the demands of the difference in temperatures outside versus inside.  To help keep your furnace from overheating, it is always recommended to check your filters monthly to make sure they stay free of clogs, and during these types of weather patterns your HVAC system will benefit from weekly filter inspections. Be sure to double check for any obstructions to your vents, whether it’s furniture or window treatments, move them away from the vent so the air doesn’t get trapped or have difficulty reaching the rest of the room.

A final easy step you should be taking is testing the batteries of your carbon monoxide alarm and if you don’t have one get one. Your Apollo technician will check for carbon monoxide and gas leaks, inspect and adjust the gas pressure and test and adjust the safety controls when performing routine maintenance to prepare your HVAC system for whatever winter weather the Cincinnati area has to throw at you.


If your furnace decides it can’t go on, we also offer emergency service. Please don’t hesitate to call, particularly during the winter weather. Our technicians are continuously trained and stock a comprehensive inventory of parts on their trucks to fix any problems with one visit. Ready to schedule your tune-up? Call Apollo Home Electrical, Heating, Cooling and Plumbing. We’ve been assisting Greater Cincinnati homeowners with their furnace maintenance needs since 1910 and are eager to assist you!

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"Ernie & Mike did a superb job on my new furnace and A/C installation. Despite having more than a day’s work to do, they came in and stayed until the job was done. They were organized, efficient, and protected the rest of the house well. Got both furnace and A/C installed the same day. Ernie was courteous, informative, and clearly knew his job better than anyone I’ve encountered before. The units look so good guests now get The Tour of our new system. Apollo is clearly not a fly-by-night company. I would recommend them to anyone in need of a new furnace and/or A/C."
- Jerry A.
"I called Apollo because of a water leak I thought I had in our upstairs shower going into the kitchen. Robbie came and assured me everything was fine & looked at all the other plumbing. He ended up changing a few pipes for our washer & clearing a drain. He was very nice & knowledgeable with all my questions. I ended up signing up for the care plan & was very happy with my service."
- Cassandra B.
"The team at Apollo exceeded my expectations. As a business owner, my attention to the details and commitment to providing excellent service is high. From the sales rep. to the installation team, everyone’s performance was outstanding. For example, the installation team went to great lengths to protect our floors, placing floor runners and across the wood floors and up the stairs. They even were spot washing walls upon their departure. I highly recommend this company."
- Randy B.
"We scheduled an estimate AND a tune-up. We knew something was wrong with our furnace, but hoped we could make it through the rest of the season. Upon telling Bill what our furnace was doing, he warned us immediately what the possible outcome was going to be; a cracked heat exchanger. He watched the flames roll backward, tested carbon monoxide levels, which were so high they meter’s last reading was 5,600 before saying “high”. He immediately shut it down, tagged it, and explained that with levels that high and children in our home he wanted off right away. He continued his inspection and showed us via a camera that not only was it cracked in multiple places, but had holes all over it. He gave us a few options for repairing it; his knowledge as well as genuine concern was beneficial and refreshing. Luckily we also scheduled an estimator, Micah, to come too and we were able to get costs between repairing and replacing (with several options). We decided to replace with a much higher efficiency furnace and one sized properly to our home. Hands down, not only did they both provide us great service and knowledge, but without sounding dramatic, they may have saved our lives. This was our first time calling Apollo, but it won’t be our last."
- Sarah B.
"Apollo is an excellent company. I always receive great service. Alex A. was professional and friendly. He kept me informed during the process of checking my furnace and heat pump to make sure they were working properly. The company makes sure you are notified who is coming and when they are on the way. All my interactions with the company have been wonderful."
- Beverly S.
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