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The right HVAC upgrades can improve comfort, indoor air quality, system protection, and control throughout the heating season.

Some upgrades are designed to make your HVAC system smarter. Others protect expensive equipment, improve air filtration, or address the dry indoor air that is common during a Michigan winter.

At Harriman Heating & Air Conditioning, we help homeowners in Farmington Hills, MI, and across Metro Detroit determine which improvements make sense for their existing HVAC system, home, and comfort needs. Here are several upgrades worth considering before winter arrives, according to our HVAC pros.

1. Upgrade to a Smart Thermostat With Room Sensors

A traditional thermostat measures the temperature in one location. That can be a problem if your thermostat is in a hallway while your family spends most of its time in the living room, kitchen, or upstairs bedrooms.

A smart thermostat with remote room sensors can provide more information about temperatures in different areas of the home. Depending on the system and thermostat, homeowners may be able to prioritize specific rooms, create schedules, monitor temperatures remotely, and receive system alerts.

Smart controls can also make it easier to adjust your heating schedule around work, school, vacations, and sleeping hours. Programmable thermostat settings can reduce heating and cooling energy use by up to 10% when set to reduce usage when no one is home.

For Metro Detroit homeowners dealing with rooms that are consistently too warm or too cold, a thermostat upgrade may be a relatively simple place to start.

2. Install an HVAC Surge Protector

Whether you have a furnace and air conditioner combo or an energy-efficient heat pump, HVAC components contain sensitive electrical and electronic controls. Electrical surges can occur because of utility issues, electrical events, or lightning.

An HVAC surge protector is designed to help protect HVAC equipment from damaging voltage spikes. It’s particularly worth discussing if you’ve already invested in a newer furnace, heat pump, air conditioner, or communicating HVAC system.

Think of it as another layer of protection for equipment you depend on every day. A surge protector doesn’t replace proper electrical protection throughout the home, but a dedicated HVAC solution can provide additional protection at the equipment.

3. Consider a Hard Start Kit

If your air conditioner (or heat pump) struggles to start during periods of extreme heat, a hard start kit may be a worthwhile upgrade. This small device provides your compressor with an extra burst of power at startup, reducing strain on the system and helping it reach operating speed more efficiently.

Hard start kits are especially beneficial for older HVAC systems, homes with frequent power fluctuations, or units that experience heavy summer workloads. By decreasing startup stress, they can help extend compressor life, improve overall reliability, and reduce the risk of costly breakdowns.

While a hard start kit won’t increase your system’s cooling capacity, it can improve performance and efficiency by helping the compressor start more smoothly. It’s a relatively affordable upgrade that can provide added protection for one of the most important and expensive components in your HVAC system.

Before installation, consult a qualified HVAC professional to determine whether a hard start kit is compatible with your equipment and beneficial for your home’s specific needs.

4. Add a UV Light to the HVAC System

Installed within the HVAC system, these lights are typically positioned near the evaporator coil or condensate drain pan, where moisture can create conditions for mold, mildew, and other microorganisms to grow. UV-C light helps inhibit the growth of these contaminants, supporting a cleaner HVAC system.

UV lights aren’t a substitute for filtration, cleaning, ventilation, or proper humidity control. However, they can be one component of a broader indoor air quality strategy.

If you’re considering a UV light upgrade, talk with a qualified HVAC professional from Harriman Heating & Air Conditioning. Understanding how the system works and what it can realistically accomplish will help you determine whether it’s a worthwhile investment for your home.

5. Upgrade to an Air Cleaner or Media Filter

Your HVAC filter does more than protect the furnace and air handler. It also affects the air circulating through your home.

A basic one-inch filter may be sufficient for some systems, while other homes can benefit from a larger media filter or whole-home air cleaner. These systems can provide more substantial filtration than a basic filter, depending on the product and its specifications.

The important consideration is matching filtration to the HVAC system. A filter that is too restrictive for the equipment can affect airflow. That’s why simply buying the highest-rated filter available isn’t always the right approach.

6. Consider a Whole-Home Air Purifier

An air purifier is another option for homeowners who want to take indoor air quality a step further.

Whole-home purification equipment is installed as part of the HVAC system rather than relying solely on a portable unit in one room. Depending on the technology, a purifier may target airborne particles or other contaminants.

The right solution depends on what’s actually affecting your home’s indoor air quality. A homeowner concerned about dust may need a different approach than someone primarily concerned about odors or fine particles.

A professional assessment can help identify whether better filtration, air cleaning, humidity control, ventilation, ductwork improvements, or another solution makes the most sense.

7. Add a Whole-Home Humidifier

If you’ve ever woken up in a Michigan winter with dry skin, a scratchy throat, static electricity, or noticeably dry air, your home’s humidity level may be part of the problem.

Cold outdoor air contains less moisture, and heating that air indoors can make the relative humidity feel even drier. A whole-home humidifier works with your HVAC system to add controlled moisture to the air.

Rather than relying on a small portable humidifier that needs to be refilled repeatedly, a whole-home system can provide more consistent humidity throughout the house.

Humidity should be controlled carefully, however. Excessive indoor moisture can contribute to condensation and other problems. That’s why a properly installed and controlled humidifier is preferable to simply adding as much moisture as possible.

Which HVAC Upgrades Should You Make First?

You don’t necessarily need every upgrade on this list. The best HVAC upgrades depend on the age and condition of your equipment, your home’s comfort issues, indoor air quality concerns, electrical environment, and your budget.

A good place to start is with a professional HVAC inspection before the heating season. Your Harriman Heating & Air Conditioning technician can evaluate the furnace or heat pump, airflow, electrical components, thermostat operation, filtration, humidity, and other system conditions before recommending improvements.

For older systems, it may also make more sense financially to compare the cost of multiple upgrades with the cost and expected performance of replacing the equipment.

Get Your HVAC System Ready for a Michigan Winter

Michigan weather doesn’t always give homeowners much warning before the heating system gets put to the test. Taking care of upgrades in the fall gives you time to address comfort problems, improve indoor air quality, and add protection before the coldest weather arrives.

Whether you’re interested in a smart thermostat with room sensors, HVAC surge protection, a hard start kit, UV light, upgraded media filtration, an air purifier, or a whole-home humidifier, Harriman Heating & Air Conditioning can help you determine which options are compatible with your HVAC system.

Schedule a professional HVAC evaluation before winter sets in and make sure your Farmington Hills, MI, home is ready for the heating season—call 734-271-6200 or request service online.