Most of us embrace the crisp and cool weather of fall, but we also know that the winter chill isn’t far behind. While making your Thanksgiving plans is also a great time to consider how to prepare for winter. A big part of winter preparations is ensuring that the heating system in your home will work effectively, efficiently, and safely.
We’re experts when it comes to handling local heating systems, and today we’re going to share with you the best steps to get your heating system ready for the chill temperatures.
First, schedule professional heating maintenance
This is the #1 task you can do to protect your home comfort in the winter. When you schedule HVAC maintenance in Acworth, GA with our professional team, you’ll receive a home visit where our technicians will give your heating system a complete inspection and tune-up. The inspection will see that your heater is working properly and safely, and it gives us a chance to catch early signs of trouble so you can have them fixed before winter. The tune-up steps will help the heater’s energy efficiency and slow down the effects of aging—not only will your heater use less energy, it will last longer. If you haven’t scheduled maintenance yet, contact us today and get it on the calendar.
Change the air filter
If you have a forced-air heating system (furnace or heat pump), then you need to have a clean air filter in place before winter. This filter collects dust and debris whenever the HVAC system works, and it only takes one to three months for the filter to become so dirty that it will start to block airflow into the heater. This will make the heater more expensive to run and result in general poor performance. If the clogged filter remains in place long enough, it can start to damage the heating system. Put a clean filter in place and keep several clean filters in the house for convenient changes later in winter.
Visually inspect the exterior of the heater
This is an especially important step if you have a gas furnace. You don’t want objects stored near the furnace, especially anything that’s flammable. Make sure that the furnace has a three-foot clearance on all sides, and make sure there aren’t any objects like clothes draped over it.
See that the vents are clear
Take a tour around your house and inspect all the room vents. Check that they are fully open and that no objects like furniture or rugs are blocking them.
Test run the heater when it’s not cold outside
Don’t wait until the first cold day to turn your heater on for the season—give it at least one test run so you can catch any major problems early. If you have a gas furnace, you’ll notice a burning odor the first time the furnace turns on. This is normal: it’s dust on the heat exchanger burning off. Listen for any odd sounds from the heater, such as clanging, grinding, screeching, or loud persistent clicking. Walk around the house to check that the heater is getting warmth to all the rooms and not leaving any cold spots.
For professional heating services, contact Dayco Systems today!
