Your furnace is instrumental in keeping you and your family warm during cold weather. However, it’s essential to prepare your furnace before winter arrives. By following specific steps before turning on your furnace for winter, you can ensure that your unit will keep your home warm and remain energy efficient throughout the winter season.
At World Class Services, we are Westerville’s premier furnace installation, maintenance, and repair team. No matter your location around Westerville, our professionals can help keep you warm during Ohio’s frigid spells. Contact us at 614-412-0750 for all your furnace needs.
In this article, our team at World Class Services discusses eight important steps to take before turning on your furnace for the winter.
1. Move Objects Blocking Air Vents
One of the first things to do before turning on your furnace for winter is to move all objects blocking your air vents. Furniture blocking the path of air leaving your vents can make your furnace work harder and increase your utility bills.
Items too close to hot air vents can also lead to a fire. Ensure that objects such as wooden or fabric furniture are a safe distance away from uncovered air vents. Improving airflow is just one of several simple tips for fall energy savings that can help lower heating costs.
2. Replace the Air Filter
An HVAC system’s dirty filter that has collected dust, dirt, pet hair, and other airborne debris significantly decreases your home’s air quality, causing allergies and other issues. Replacing the air filter will ensure that your indoor air quality remains high and will prevent reduced airflow through your HVAC system. Furthermore, you’ll experience reduced heating expenses as your furnace no longer has to work as hard to distribute heat.
3. Prepare Your Carbon Monoxide Detector
Your carbon monoxide detector detects harmful carbon monoxide gas. Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas often undetectable without physical symptoms or a sensor. A faulty furnace may produce carbon monoxide, which could result in severe poisoning or death.
Confirming that your detector works properly is crucial to your family’s safety. Before turning on the furnace for winter, test the detector’s alarm to ensure that it works properly. Change the batteries and replace old or faulty units if the alarm is nonresponsive.
4. Clean Furnace Burners
As your furnace sits unused over the summer, dust may settle on the burners. This debris decreases your furnace’s longevity and causes a burning smell when you turn on the unit. Before turning on the furnace, it’s best to clean the burners.
To clean your furnace’s burners, turn off the unit and the gas line, if applicable. Wipe up all dust from the burners with a cloth and remove the remaining debris with a vacuum hose. While cleaning the unit, check for other areas with considerable dust, and remove it carefully.
5. Change Temperatures Accordingly
The last thing you want is a damaged furnace. Switching from hot to cold temperatures can cause excessive wear and tear on your heating system. It’s best to change your HVAC system’s temperature as the weather gets colder.
As temperatures decrease, you should turn off your cooling and heating system. Set your furnace to a low temperature and increase it as the changing weather gets colder. You’ll avoid costly furnace repairs and save money on home comfort.
6. Increase Home Insulation
Turning on the furnace for winter also requires preparing your home. Leaks in doors and other signs of poor insulation result in high energy bills and a furnace that must work harder than necessary to heat your home. Eventually, excessive operation results in a decreased lifespan.
You can save significantly on indoor heating by adding extra insulation to your walls, sealing cracks near windows and entryways, and preventing hot air from exiting your home. A properly insulated home is especially important if you’re using an energy-efficient system like a geothermal heating system at home, which performs best when heat loss is minimized. It’s possible to reduce your monthly energy bills by up to 15%.
7. Repair and Maintain Ducts
Your air ducts are a vital part of your HVAC system and should receive maintenance with your furnace. Damaged ductwork allows hot air to exit your home and prevents your rooms from heating evenly. Without properly sealed ducts, your furnace will take longer to warm your home and still fail to heat it thoroughly. For homes that experience frequent outages, it may be worth evaluating the advantages of whole-home backup power to keep your heating system running even during winter blackouts.
You can inspect your furnace’s ductwork yourself or contact a professional HVAC technician to perform the job. A professional can help you save money by fixing structural damage properly the first time.
8. Test the Furnace
After properly cleaning and maintaining your furnace, it’s time to test it. Turn on the unit well before cold temperatures arrive, and check every room in your home for heating issues.
If you hear unusual noises, your home is still cold, or you notice other comfort issues, it’s best to get help from a professional before turning on the furnace for winter. While it’s possible to do furnace maintenance yourself, professionals follow a streamlined process that leaves no boxes unchecked. They can also perform annual maintenance to keep your unit running properly for years.
Our Furnace Maintenance Service
At World Class Services, we provide detail-oriented furnace maintenance services that will leave your unit in perfect condition to combat winter temperatures for years to come. We’ll inspect your unit, clean it, replace minor components, and confirm that it works properly. We follow an extensive checklist to ensure that all parts receive the proper maintenance.
Our HVAC technicians have the necessary licensure, bonding, and insurance to provide you with high-quality maintenance. We’ll utilize state-of-the-art equipment and come with fully-stocked vehicles to effectively maintain your furnace. If your unit needs further repairs, we’ll discuss the best route and provide a free estimate.
Contact Us Today
Without the proper maintenance, turning on a furnace for winter can result in extensive repair needs, premature breakdowns, and energy efficiency issues. At World Class Services, we remove the hassle of maintaining your furnace yourself. Our many years of experience, transparent business operation, friendly professionals, and drive for customer satisfaction make us your go-to company.
Frequently Asked Questions
Question: What should I do before turning on my furnace for the first time in winter?
Answer: First, clear any furniture or items blocking air vents to allow proper airflow and reduce fire risk. Replace the air filter to boost efficiency and air quality. Test your carbon monoxide detector, replace batteries or the unit if it’s unresponsive.
Question: How do I clean my furnace burners safely?
Answer: Turn off both the furnace and gas supply. Wipe off dust on the burners with a cloth, then vacuum remaining debris. While you’re at it, inspect surrounding areas for accumulated dust or debris and remove it gently.
Question: How should I adjust my temperature settings as winter approaches?
Answer: Instead of jumping from cool to heat, gradually lower the thermostat when switching systems. Start at a lower temperature and ramp up as needed. This approach helps avoid unnecessary strain on your furnace and can reduce potential repair costs.
Question: Are there steps to take beyond the furnace itself?
Answer: Yes, improve home insulation by sealing drafts around doors and windows. This helps your furnace use less energy and can cut heating costs by up to 15%. Also, check and repair ductwork to prevent heat loss and ensure even distribution throughout the home.
Question: How do I check if my furnace is ready after maintenance?
Answer: Power up the unit before the cold hits and check for even heat distribution in all rooms. Listen for any unusual noises or note if some areas remain cold. If anything seems off, have a professional inspect the system before relying on it during the cold.
Get the correct HVAC system maintenance for winter in Ohio. Look no further than our team at World Class Services for furnace maintenance in Westerville, OH. Contact our HVAC experts today and schedule an appointment when you call 614-412-0750.
