Getting your furnace ready for winter is an important step to ensure your house is being warmed effectively and efficiently. It may seem like a boring process, but it is very important! In fact, most people don’t even know how to prepare their furnace. Here are some tips to get you started:
1. Switch your thermostat from cooling to heating
Seems like a straightforward task, but sometimes the easiest steps are the ones we forget!
2. Make sure the burners are free of debris and dust
Dust is a huge pain, and over time it adds up. That’s why it is vital to check and clean the furnace burners before the start of the colder seasons. Also, this is a good time to check for signs of misalignment and rust. Your burners should burn with a hard blue flame, if you see excessive yellow when they come on it’s time to call for service.
3. Check and change your filter
If your filter is no good, then the air quality in your home isn’t going to be much better. Make sure that your furnace filters are cleaned and allowing proper air flow.
4. Inspect the furnace blower
It is important to make sure all the components of your heating system are clean and in working order when preparing for winter. The furnace blower motor plays a huge role in how effectively your heating system functions. It should be oiled once a year and it shouldn’t make any unusual noises when started.
5. Schedule an early appointment!
Schedule your appointment ahead of time! Be proactive, professional companies get very busy at the onset of winter. If you aren’t familiar with how your furnace works, the best way to save money in the long run is to have a professional service your heating system.
Some other tips to help your furnace:
1. Your thermostat
If a thermostat is not working correctly, your heating system may not be working efficiently. Turn on your thermostat and monitor how it responds, it should start up immediately without any problems.
2. Proper ventilation
Make sure that nothing is blocking the heating vents in your home. Blocked vents can actually drive your heating bill up and are useless because they don’t allow heat into the home. In addition, a blocked vent can result in an overheated furnace.
3. Installs storm windows.
Storm windows are great for winter. You will be able to decrease the amount of heat leaking out of your windows, which means less work for your furnace, resulting in a lower electricity bill!
4. Is your flue clean and covered with screen?
Obstructions such as bird nests or debris can be a huge issue so be sure to clean them up! If you have a brick chimney be sure to have someone come inspect to make sure that the mortar is holding and there is not an excessive amount of soot.
5. Excessive dust in the home?
If you’re noticing an excessive amount of dust or black marks around your register, it may be time to get your ducts cleaned or to look at a better filtration system. There are germicidal lights and high efficiency filters that can really improve your indoor air quality!
We hope these tips help to get you ready for the cold months ahead! If you don’t feel up to the challenge yourself and you’re ready to get warm this winter, MCS is always here to help! Give us a call today @ 505-888-1616 and we’ll get your furnace ready for winter!
