Time to Have Your Furnace Maintained for Winter

Transitioning from fall into winter brings about dramatic changes in the temperature. Now is the time to have your heating system serviced for the cold months ahead. Annual furnace maintenance is important for several primary reasons including safety, efficiency, and reliability.

• Safety: Because your furnace is fueled by gas, oil, or electricity, the potential exists for producing harmful amounts of carbon monoxide and other toxic gases. Proper ventilation is key to making sure any gases produced that may endanger you, your family, or your coworkers, are kept at a minimum. A thorough annual inspection will assess your ventilation system including heating operations, checking for leaks, air duct efficiency, and filter effectiveness.


• Efficiency: A properly functioning heating system, along with programming your thermostat for smart temperature control, will run more efficiently and save you money each month. Like everything else, furnaces collect dust and dirt that impedes their ability to fun smoothly. An annual heating inspection will include cleaning your furnace, adding any needed lubricants to reduce friction, sealing any leaks, and checking all belts to make sure they are working optimally.


• Reliability: Too often, folks either put off or simply forget to have their furnace maintained and inspected for the winter. A furnace malfunctioning mid-winter is no fun. Best-case scenario, you spend a few cold hours but if parts have to be ordered or the entire system replaced, you may end up paying for a hotel room, often more costly than an upfront furnace inspection to protect against just such a heating failure.

Many home warranties also require an annual service inspection. Trained to maximize safety, furnace efficiency, and make sure it is in good working order, a heating and air conditioning professional is easy to find online. There are also a few things you can do to prepare for winter as well.

Change furnace filters regularly. When you have your furnace inspection, it is a good time to make sure you are using the best size and type of filter for your heating unit. Depending on your climate, your heating system, and the type of filter you are using, most filters need replacement from monthly to every three months. Some furnaces have reusable filters that you simply need to clean regularly. Make sure you have stock up on filters so you do not run out for the winter.

Be sure not to store items near the furnace. This is particularly true of anything flammable. Similarly, make sure you there is nothing stacked on your air ducts and that your vents and return vents are not blocked.

If you have an oil or propane fueled furnace, have your tanks filled so your fuel lasts the winter. And for hot-water radiators, the valves must be bled by opening the them slightly and then closing them again when water starts to appear.

Finally, if you have not done do already, buy and install carbon monoxide and radon detectors, which are available at your local hardware store or big-box store.

Just like you maintain your car, good maintenance of your heating system will keep it running smoothly and extend the life of your furnace. Your local heating and cooling professional will help give you the peace of mind of know you can depend on your system through the freezing winter months ahead.