Enjoy trouble-free heating all winter with help from Leith Heating & Cooling. Schedule furnace maintenance for your Roselle, IL, home today, and check one more winter preparation task off your list.
It might be hard to believe, but winter is right around the corner. Is your home’s heating system ready? Check out this guide on how to prepare your furnace for winter from the most trusted certified heating service in Roselle, IL, and feel confident that your family will stay warm and safe when the snow flies.
Schedule a Professional Inspection and Service for Your Roselle Furnace
While homeowners can do some simple things to get their furnaces ready for cold weather, the single most important task is to schedule a professional service visit from a qualified heating technician. These appointments only take an hour or two but can eliminate hours (or days) of headaches if something goes wrong.
During a professional maintenance visit to your Roselle home, the technician will inspect, clean, and tune up the furnace to ensure it works reliably and efficiently. They’re experts in how to prepare your furnace for winter and know the parts that need the most attention and the signs of potential trouble to look for. In fact, one of the major advantages of scheduling maintenance is the chance to catch small issues before they become big ones that lead to a breakdown or total furnace failure.
Technicians follow a comprehensive checklist for furnace maintenance, which includes:
- Inspecting electrical components and adjusting as needed
- Inspecting, cleaning, and lubricating the blower mower
- Burner cleaning and testing
- Testing the pilot light ignition switch
- Inspecting the chimney and flues for damage or blockages
- Checking the carbon monoxide detector
- Calibrating the thermostat
- Performing a heat exchanger inspection and cleaning
- Changing the air filter
- Conducting a duct inspection
At the end of the appointment, you’ll receive a detailed report about the furnace condition and any areas of concern the technician found. In many cases, they’ll make minor repairs on the spot, but if they find other issues that require attention, schedule repairs as soon as possible.
What Roselle Homeowners Can Do To Get Ready for Heating Season
Even when you keep up with regular maintenance, knowing how to prepare your furnace for winter can prevent problems. Roselle homeowners should plan to tackle a few more small tasks before the weather arrives.
Stock Up on Air Filters
Air filter replacement is one of the best things you can do to protect your heating system and ensure it runs efficiently. A clogged air filter impedes airflow, forcing your furnace to work harder, and has a detrimental effect on air quality. Before winter, stock up on a supply of air filters so you can replace them on a regular schedule (usually every 30 to 45 days) throughout the winter.
If you aren’t sure how to change the air filter on your furnace, ask the HVAC technician to show you so you can take care of it on your own.
Check the Thermostat
Before your maintenance appointment, perform a preliminary thermostat check to ensure it works. Change the batteries, switch the setting from cool to heat, and adjust the temperature by a few degrees to ensure it activates the heat. If it doesn’t work, check the circuit breaker and pilot light to ensure they’re both on.
If your thermostat doesn’t work and basic troubleshooting doesn’t solve the issue, tell your heating technician so they can investigate and solve the problem.
Clean Around the Furnace
Leaving space around the furnace isn’t just to allow the HVAC technician access to the unit for service. Although furnaces tend to be in spaces where stuff tends to pile up, it’s important to leave about three feet of clear space around the unit for safety. This helps ensure adequate airflow and that the furnace runs smoothly.
Check the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Before turning on the furnace, change the batteries in the smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and test the devices. It’s a small task, but it can protect your family from danger.
Allow Dust To Burn Off
On a warmer fall day in Roselle, open the windows and run the furnace for about 30 minutes. When you first start it up, you might notice a slight burning smell as the dust in the vents ducts burns off. Opening the windows allows the poor quality air to escape, so you don’t breathe it in.
Take Care of the Outdoor Air Conditioner Condenser
When you’re running through the checklist of how to prepare your furnace for winter, don’t overlook the outdoor air conditioner condenser unit. Winter weather can take a toll on it, and cause problems next spring.
The first step is to clear the area around the unit of leaves, twigs, and other debris. You don’t want anything to slip into the condenser unit and cause damage. On a nice, relatively warm day, clean the grill and fins and allow them to dry.
There’s some debate over whether you should cover the condenser over the winter or not. At the very least, place something over the top of the unit to protect it from falling on it; a board or trash can lid attached to bungee cords is an effective solution.
If you decide to cover the entire unit, avoid using a plastic tarp or other cover that doesn’t allow airflow. These can trap moisture and cause deterioration, so opt for a cover designed for this purpose instead. However, if you have a heat pump, never cover the unit.
Enjoy a Cozy Home All Winter
As colder weather approaches, and you start thinking about how to prepare your furnace for winter, get in touch with Leith Heating & Air in Roselle, IL, for help. As the local experts in furnace and AC maintenance, we’re ready to help you prepare your system for flawless heating on even the most frigid and blustery days. Be sure to ask about money-saving specials and the Level Up Club for stress-free, affordable maintenance and HVAC service year-round. Reach out now.