Keeping Your Furnace in Tip-Top Shape All Winter Long
– By #Action Mechanical
As the temperatures continue to dip, it’s time to face the harsh reality that the cold weather is here to stay. For most, you’ve likely already turned your furnace on for the season as the nightly temperatures drop into the single digits, while others have been holding out until the very last moment. No matter whether you’ve turned your furnace on or not, it is a known fact that performing safe, yearly preventative heater maintenance on your heating system is of great importance to guarantee your home stays warm all winter.
If you find yourself asking “what should I do to get my heater ready for winter?” we have some tips to help you better prepare your home and heating system for the fast approaching frigid weather!
- Replace your HVAC Filter: Ensuring your HVAC Filter is working efficiently and has been appropriately replaced can make a world of difference for your heating system. Not only will replacing your filter allow your HVAC system to work more effectively, but it will also help you save money and extend the life of your furnace in the long run. (Remember, your filter should be ideally changed at least once every season, more often if you have pets in the home)
- Switch over your Thermostat: Perhaps the simplest step to take in preparing your heating system for winter, switching your thermostat from ‘cooling’ to ‘heating’ is an easily missed step. Once you do, make sure you hear the heating system kick in. If you notice it is failing to turn on, or it’s making a lot of clunking and banging noises, it might be time to give us a call.
- Prepare and clean your air vents, registers: Cleaning out your air vents and registers is a simple, yet effective way to increase the efficiency of your heating system. In the process of cleaning your air vents and register, make sure that no furniture or objects are blocking your heating system from warming a room. For example, if your bed has been pushed up against a wall blocking a heat register, your room may not adequately warm up as well it should and could consequently increase the amount of heat your furnace pumps through your house.
- Have your furnace appropriately vacuumed: If your heater just doesn’t seem to be performing efficiently, this could be the culprit. This item should only be completed by a licensed professional. Give us a call today at 605-348-5212 for a heater maintenance check and cleaning.
- Reverse your ceiling fans: A little known fact to many, reversing the direction of your ceiling fans can drastically improve the efficiency and spread of heat throughout your home as your fan blades force risen heat down throughout your house. (Remember heat rises) This can usually be done by flipping a switch directly on your fan. If you’re not sure which direction your fan is blowing, just stand underneath it. If you can feel the air movement, it’s most likely blowing air down.
- Ensure you’ve winterized your air conditioning unit: While the topic of this blog article is to focus on the heating of your house, it is equally as important to ensure your A/C unit is prepared to handle the harsh conditions of winter so that it can be in working order the moment warmer weather returns! Covering your A/C condenser is the simplest thing you can do to make a big difference later on.
- Have your heating ducts inspected: Ensuring your heating ducts and chimneys are appropriately clear to pass heat throughout your house and out vents is important. To implement this tip, we strongly recommend having a professional complete this task. Let our team inspect your ductwork and identify solutions to make your heating system more effective.
For those who are unsure of how to properly perform preventative maintenance/identify potential problems with your furnace: Schedule a heater maintenance appointment with our team of licensed professionals at Action Mechanical by giving us a call at 605-348-5212. In addition to performing a professional routine check-up on your furnace and heating system, our team can also assess any problems that have been identified and help you ensure your heating system is the best it can be to carry you through winter!
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