Cold Metro East winters can put your home’s heating system to the test. The last thing you want is to discover a furnace problem on the first freezing night of the season.
Preparing your heating system before cold weather arrives can help improve reliability, identify developing problems, and give you confidence that your home will stay comfortable throughout the winter.
Here are several steps homeowners can take to get their furnace or heating system ready for the season.
Start with one of the simplest HVAC maintenance tasks: check your air filter.
A dirty filter can restrict airflow through the system, making it more difficult for your furnace to circulate heated air throughout the home.
How often a filter needs replacement depends on the filter, HVAC system, household conditions, pets, and how frequently the equipment operates. Check it regularly and follow the manufacturer’s recommendations.
If you’re concerned about excessive dust, humidity, filtration, or other airborne issues, Ehret also offers indoor air quality solutions for Metro East homes.
Don’t wait for the first freezing night to turn on your furnace.
Run your heating system early in the season and make sure it starts normally and produces warm air from the vents. Allow it to operate long enough to determine whether your home is heating as expected.
Pay attention to warning signs such as:
If something doesn’t seem right, scheduling professional furnace repair before temperatures drop can help you avoid an inconvenient breakdown later.
Make sure your thermostat is set to heating mode and responds when you adjust the temperature.
If the thermostat uses replaceable batteries, check them before heating season. This is also a good time to review any programmed schedules and make sure they still fit your household’s routine.
If your heating system doesn’t respond properly to the thermostat, the problem may involve the thermostat, furnace, electrical components, or another part of the system.
Furniture, rugs, curtains, boxes, and other household items can block supply registers and return-air grilles.
Walk through your home before heating season and make sure air can move freely through the HVAC system.
Avoid closing large numbers of vents in unused rooms unless an HVAC professional has specifically recommended doing so. Your system is designed to operate with a certain amount of airflow, and restricting it may affect performance.
Even if your furnace appears to be working properly, seasonal maintenance gives an HVAC technician an opportunity to inspect the system before it faces months of regular use.
Depending on the equipment and service being performed, a professional may inspect heating components, electrical connections, controls, airflow, ignition components, the thermostat, and other important parts of the system.
Regular maintenance can help:
Having your heating system professionally maintained before winter also gives you time to address problems before heating contractors become especially busy during extremely cold weather.
Some furnace problems shouldn’t wait for the next routine maintenance appointment.
Contact an HVAC professional if your system isn’t producing heat, repeatedly shuts down, makes new or unusual noises, or can no longer maintain a comfortable temperature.
If you smell gas, leave the affected area and follow your gas utility’s emergency instructions rather than attempting to diagnose the furnace yourself.
Maintenance can help keep HVAC equipment operating properly, but no furnace lasts forever.
If your system is older and beginning to require frequent repairs, heating unevenly, or struggling to keep your home comfortable, it may be worth discussing furnace replacement options before a complete breakdown occurs.
Planning ahead gives you more time to compare equipment and make a decision without the pressure of being without heat during cold weather.
Keeping track of spring and fall HVAC maintenance can be easy to forget.
With an Ehret FAN Club Membership, your HVAC system is checked and maintained twice per year. These seasonal visits help prepare your cooling equipment for summer and your heating equipment for winter.
Regular maintenance can also give technicians an opportunity to identify developing issues before they turn into unexpected surprises.
A little preparation before winter can make a big difference once cold weather arrives. Check your filter, test the furnace early, make sure vents are clear, and address unusual performance before your heating system is working around the clock.
Ehret Inc. provides professional heating services throughout Belleville, IL and surrounding Metro East communities.
Schedule heating service with Ehret Inc. or call (618) 233-1018 to make sure your system is ready for winter.
