Do you want to be fully prepared for fall and winter? Then take a look at our tips below for your DIY furnace checkup for fall and winter.
- Do you have extra filters? It’s always a great idea to stock up on filters for your furnace. Depending on the filter type, you should change it every 1-3 months to maintain optimum air quality and reduce strain on your heater.
- Have you changed the furnace filter recently? Remember that when you first turn on your heater for the winter season, you should change the filter.
- Do you have things sitting next to the furnace? Your furnace needs room to breathe, so make sure that you don’t have any boxes, blankets, clothing items, furniture, or other household objects resting up against your heater. There should be a few inches of empty space on all sides of the furnace, and make sure nothing flammable is stored nearby.
- Have you checked the air vents or ducts? The air vents and ducts can become packed with debris when not in frequent use. Make sure to have a professional heating and air technician inspect and clean out your air ducts as needed.
- Are all the registers open? Your house won’t get any warmer if you have the registers in every room closed. Make sure to check that the registers are open and to clean off any visible debris from the vents.
- Do you have a gas furnace? Make sure you have enough gas for the colder months! Try to fill up far in advance to avoid higher gas prices.
- Do you have a hot water radiator? Have a heating technician bleed the valves on your hot water radiator. This gets rid of trapped air, which prevents your radiator from heating your home.
- Have you updated the schedule on your automatic thermostat? If you plan on leaving your heater on all day, but won’t be home to adjust the temperature as needed, then having a programmable thermostat is a wise choice. You should set the heater so that it doesn’t go on as frequently at night when you are sleeping cozily in your bed. This will reduce your energy usage and save you money on your winter heating bills.
- Are you enrolled in a bi-annual or quarterly maintenance program? We ALWAYS recommend that our customers enroll in a regular furnace maintenance program. Our heating and air technicians can ensure that your filters are changed, ducts are cleaned, and everything is in tip top shape for the cold winter months.
- Is your furnace malfunctioning? If you’ve completed your checklist but have found that your furnace is malfunctioning, call our experts at My Plumber. We’ll help you to perform your furnace checkup for fall and winter!
