A Brief Guide to Prepping Your Furnace for Fall
As the days get shorter and the summer heat starts to wane, you’ll likely find yourself turning off the air conditioning and enjoying the cooler temperatures of fall. While the condition of your furnace may be the last thing on your mind, you shouldn’t wait until cold temperatures arrive to give your heater some attention—it could save you money and some major inconvenience if the temperature drops and you find your furnace isn’t working.
Following some simple furnace maintenance tips will give you peace of mind that your heater’s good to go whenever you need it. Here’s how to prepare a furnace for fall.
Invest in a tune-up
One of the best things you can do to prepare your furnace for fall is invest in a tune-up from an HVAC professional. Your technician will take a detailed look at the furnace and determine whether there are any small problems that could turn into larger ones throughout the cold-weather months. During the tune-up, your maintenance technician will perform the following tasks to look for and troubleshoot any potential problems:
- Calibrate the thermostat
- Check heating operations
- Clean electrical connections
- Clean or replace filters
- Clean burners
- Check safety and limit switches
Clean the furnace
Removing dust and dirt from the furnace plays a big part in keeping it going as long as possible. Start by making sure the unit is shut off, and be sure to play it safe and turn off the entire circuit breaker that powers the unit. Make sure the gas valve is shut off, too, if you have a gas furnace. Remove the sides of the furnace and use a vacuum to pick up any dust, dirt or debris that’s built up since the last cleaning. Take a wet cloth and clean the dirt and dust from the blades of the blower fan. If you have a gas furnace, clean debris from the combustion chamber and the blower fan chamber.
Change the filters
Changing the furnace filters before fall is one of the most important furnace maintenance tips. This is usually a step that your HVAC technician will perform during a tune-up. Keep in mind that you should change the filter every one to three months during the winter. HVAC systems have to work much harder when the filters aren’t clean, so regular filter changes are crucial in extending the lifespan of your furnace.
Clean vents and ducts
While cleaning vents and ducts around the house isn’t anyone’s idea of fun, it’s necessary if you want to prevent your furnace from working overtime throughout the cold winter months. While you don’t necessarily need a complete duct cleaning, you should at least remove all dust and debris from vents and vacuum register covers to ensure air is able to flow freely throughout your house.
Now that you know how to prepare a furnace for fall, don’t wait to take the first step and call your preferred HVAC technicians to take a look at this important appliance. Reputable HVAC companies like JMB A/C & Heating LLC ensure that your furnace is good to go as soon as the thermostat dips lower, keeping you and your family comfortable all winter long. Call us today to schedule a service appointment.
Categorised in: Heating Services