Preparing your Furnace for Colder Weather: Tips and Tricks
There are always a lot of items to check off on your to-do list when you are planning for the winter season. You’ve planted the bulbs for spring, put away patio cushions, cleaned out the gutters and covered the pool. What is next? Checking the heat! In NW, many houses use a gas or oil-fired furnace to keep their home heated all winter long, so it is an important item to add to your to-do list when you are making it.
While you may have seen plenty of blogs and videos about checking your furnace yourself, is this something you really want to take a chance with? Hiring a heating professional to come out and double-check your furnace is important for your safety, as well as the safety of your family! They can make sure that there isn’t anything wrong with your furnace, such as a fuel leak or mechanical issue. They have been trained to spot problems in their beginning stages, which can save you hassle and money later. A gas leak is not only dangerous, it will cost more to fix it when it isn’t caught right away. For around $150, a professional can come out and do a basic service call on your furnace to make sure all is well.
You’ll also want to ensure that the filter is replaced on your furnace before you start it for the season. These should be changed out monthly to make sure you circulate good air quality in your home. Double-check the filter to see what type it is and how to install it properly. Some furnace filters are a polyester/cotton paper or disposable fiberglass; some are disposable and some are permanent.
Cleaning out your air ducts will also ensure that your furnace is running efficiently and safely throughout the winter. You may be able to vacuum the grilles and registers yourself by removing them, cleaning where you can reach, and replacing them. Use a flashlight and a mirror to examine the parts of the ducts you can see. They should be professionally cleaned if you can see a good amount of dirt and debris. Duct cleaning can be done only when necessary, but if you are not sure of when your ducts have been cleaned last it is best to call in a professional.
Some of LRF Maintenance’s customers are taking advantage of our HVAC Maintenance program. It is affordable and it allows us to come in and check the appropriate heating and cooling structures throughout the year. We service them appropriately to help you eliminate the stress of time of checking these functionalities yourself.
Lastly, consider automating your heating system. This can be done with a smart thermostat that hooks up to your wi-fi and is controlled through an app on your phone. It takes just 30 minutes to install and you can program it to control the temperature from your phone. The thermostat will sense when you are in the house and will adjust itself to your own comfort levels. It is easy to adjust from your phone and you won’t have to worry whether you left the furnace on high all day at work anymore. A Nest thermostat is one of the best quality smart thermostats on the market today and well-worth the energy savings you will experience after installation.
We welcome you to contact us today with any questions or concerns you may have!