When the leaves start to fall and the crisp autumn air sets in, homeowners all across the country understand how there’s only a matter of weeks until the first real snowstorms arrive.
And the last thing anyone wants to deal with during months like December and January is heating and furnace problems-or even worse, full-on breakdowns.
This is why the fall months tend to be one of the best times of year to schedule professional furnace maintenance appointments at your property, and this also includes several proactive tips that homeowners should keep in mind as they get prepped and ready for winter.
We recently got in touch with the furnace maintenance pros in American Fork, Utah from Apex Clean Air to learn more about the proactive steps that you can take to get your heating system ready this fall, so check out the below sections to keep your home cozy, save on your energy bills, and avoid all sorts of costly repairs this winter!
Replacing & Cleaning Furnace Air Filters
A lot of homeowners don’t realize it, but air filters are absolutely essential for your furnace’s long-term efficiency this winter.
Dirty or clogged filters will inevitably restrict airflow, which subsequently forces residential furnace units to work much harder than they actually should. This unnecessarily drives up a household’s energy costs, and in some scenarios, it even leads to severe issues like overheating and complete shutdowns.
This is why we recommend the following upkeep tips when it comes to cleaning and replacing your furnace air filters:
- Check your HVAC filters on a monthly basis, particularly during heavy-use seasons like winter and summer.
- Replace disposable filters around every 1-3 months, but this can vary depending upon your unit’s specific recommendations.
- Clean Reusable filters on a regular basis with water and be sure to let them completely dry before reinstalling them to your furnace system.
This small, affordable furnace maintenance step goes a long way to support air quality and performance.
Inspecting & Cleaning Furnace Vents
Dirty and blocked furnace vents typically limit a heating system’s overall airflow, which then leads to unnecessary strains on a home’s furnace.
That’s why every homeowner should conduct the following maintenance steps prior to winter’s arrival:
- Do a home walkthrough and ensure that your registers and vents aren’t blocked by rugs, furniture or curtains.
- Use your vacuum’s attachment to effectively clear away any debris and dust around your vent’s openings.
- Consider investing in professional air duct cleaning if you notice any consistent dust buildup around your property.
Unobstructed vents give your furnace more ability to evenly distribute warm air throughout your property!
Testing Your Heating System’s Thermostat
It’s important to remember how your thermostat is pretty much the brain control center of your property’s entire heating system, which means that you’ll want to double-check your thermostat’s settings and functionality well before the winter season begins.
Keep the following maintenance tips in mind while testing your HVAC system thermostats this fall:
- Switch to heating mode and set the temperature a few degrees higher than a room’s current temp to ensure that your furnace is in fact turning itself on.
- If you think your heating system is a little slow to respond to thermostat readings, consider replacing the thermostat’s batteries.
- Consider upgrading to smart thermostats to benefit from lower heating bills and improved HVAC efficiency.
Listening & Looking For Furnace Repair Warning Signs
Fall is also the perfect time to potentially catch lingering furnace issues well before they turn into major headaches in the heart of winter.
This is why homeowners should be sure to turn their furnace on during the fall months, and then pay attention to the following red flags:
- Strange noises like rattling, banging and grinding
- Unusual odors like burning smells that linger after the initial startup
- Weak airflow or inconsistent temperatures in various rooms of your home
If you’re noticing any of these warning signs at your property, be sure to reach out to your local furnace maintenance technicians for an inspection appointment.
Scheduling Pro Furnace Maintenance
Although there are several simple DIY tasks that homeowners can handle in terms of seasonal furnace maintenance like thermostat checks, the odds are that you’re going to need a professional tune-up in order to guarantee that your system is thoroughly prepared for the upcoming winter.
What’s great about hiring pros is that your experienced maintenance technician will be fully capable of the following:
- Cleaning and inspecting your furnace’s heat exchangers, burners and ignition systems
- Checking connections and gas lines for safety
- Ensuring carbon monoxide detectors are properly functioning
- Lubricating moving parts in order to reduce wearing
Preparing For Heating Emergencies
Even with all of the above preparation steps, homes can always experience unexpected heating issues. This is why families need to be smart this time of year to prepare for potential heating emergencies by doing the following:
- Stocking up on extra filters to make your replacements easy and quick
- Keeping your HVAC company’s information in your phone contacts just in case of potential breakdowns
- Having a backup heating option, including space heaters
Is Your Home’s Heating System Ready For Winter? If Not, It Could Be Time To Consider Furnace Maintenance
It’s crucial for homeowners to remember that your autumn furnace maintenance is about a lot more than just preventing repairs and breakdowns, because it’s also about keeping your home safe, warm and energy-efficient all season long.
By keeping the above steps in mind like checking vents, changing filters, testing your thermostat and scheduling pro tune-ups, you’ll be able to enter the winter season with full confidence that your heating system will hold up to even the harshest of elements.
And when it comes down to it, there’s nothing quite like having the peace of mind in knowing that your home will stay cozy no matter how freezing cold it gets this winter!
