The coming of winter will bring about cold temperatures, and it’ll be here sooner than you think. Keeping your home at a comfortable temperature for you and your family is of the utmost importance. Despite how inviting your fireplace and blankets may be, you should check that your heating and ventilation system is prepared to begin operating in the heating mode. Is your furnace ready to take on the challenge of the coming winter?
The time to start thinking about how to get your heating system ready for the coming winter is now. Here are some things you can do now to ensure your furnace is in good working order this winter.
1. Replace Air Filters
Maintenance of your HVAC system, including replacing the air filter, is essential to the proper functioning and prolonging its life. The United States Department of Energy lists changing air ducts as one of the top five maintenance actions that can improve HVAC performance.
Depending on the sort of filter you have and the weather in your area, you should change it out every month to three months. Filter maintenance may be more frequent in a dry, dusty atmosphere.
Each air filter is assigned a score based on the Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value standard. On a scale from 1 to 16, the Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) rates how well your air filter removes particles from the air. More stars mean that the filter is better at keeping your unit clean. A high MERV rating on an air filter is great, but one that’s too high can reduce ventilation.
2. Ductwork Maintenance
It would help if you had your ducts inspected by a professional or did it yourself before you switched on your heater in winter for preventative maintenance. It’s not uncommon for a home’s heating to be subpar because of duct leakage. Wasted heat due to holes, gaps, and other damage can lead to annoyance and increased energy costs. Now is the time to call in a heating and cooling technician to check the ducts and make any necessary preparations for the coming cold season.
3. Clear Air Vents
Vents have a well-known propensity for accumulating dirt and dust over time, obstructing the flow of air and worsening the quality of the air inside a building. Wipe off all of the apertures with a damp cloth, and check to ensure that nothing obstructs any of the vents.
4. Test Your Furnace
Worse yet would be arriving home to a broken heating system on the first cold day of the season after having spent all day indoors. Before the onset of cold weather, turn on your unit and look for any unexpected indicators, such as unusually loud noises, cold patches in the house, or differences in the thermostat settings. There shouldn’t be any problems with the temperature reaching a pleasant level in each room.
5. Avoid Fire Hazards
To reduce the fire risk starting near your heating unit, you should ensure that the area around it is clear of any clutter. Ensure your home’s smoke and CO detectors are working properly, and replace the batteries or detectors if necessary. During the winter months, it is critical to your family’s safety that this equipment is in good working order.
6. Do a Practice Run
Just like for athletes competing in track and field events, a few warm-ups are necessary for furnaces. You don’t want to start using the device for the first time during the winter. As the weather is colder, furnaces need a little advance notice to be called from the bench to do their job. Ensure that your furnace has been checked out before the arrival of a cold front. To determine how well it works, please turn it on and let it run for a few minutes. If the furnace is making strange noises or smells funny, you should switch it off immediately and get in touch with a local firm that repairs furnaces.
7. Make Sure Your Carbon Monoxide Alarm is Working
Your family may be at risk from the odorless, fatal gas known as carbon monoxide. Because your heating system will be operating for an extended period, it is necessary to ensure that your home is equipped with a carbon monoxide alarm that is in good functioning condition. If your furnace emits harmful gasses, it will be able to detect any irregularities in the air that may be present.
Test the functionality of the alarm by activating it and seeing if it goes off as expected. If there is no response, you may need to purchase a new one. It’s also possible that the batteries are dead, so you’ll need to get new ones if that’s the case.
8. Get Your House in Order
Feeling a draft when you walk by a closed window or door is peculiar. Even stranger is trying to make sense of your astronomical monthly electricity bill. Unfortunately, heat loss from your home due to poor or nonexistent insulation can lead to higher energy costs. Ensure all leaks are sealed to protect your home from the upcoming winter. Insight insulation upgrades can reduce your bills by up to 15 per cent by reducing the strain on your heating system.
9. Order a Professional to Inspect and Clean Your Furnace
Do-it-yourself HVAC system repairs are frequently recommended because of the benefits gained in knowledge. Even so, you should never neglect the twice-yearly recommendation for a professional inspection of your system. Proactive HVAC maintenance can help keep your system running smoothly for years to come. Are you planning to have your furnace cleaned by a professional in either Colorado Springs or Denver? Monster Vac will provide these services for you.
Furnace Maintenance is Home Safety
By taking the time to execute these quick and simple actions, you can ensure that your furnace will continue to operate efficiently throughout the whole winter. Relax and put your mind at ease by enlisting the assistance of a trained professional to carry out a comprehensive system assessment to head off any potential issues.
