As the State Fair winds down and kids head back to school, it’s hard to imagine but colder temps are just around the corner. Minnesotans endure some of the most brutal temperatures in the country and you want to ensure you and your family has a safe and warm home throughout the season. One of the most important things you can do is prepare your furnace and HVAC system for the winter.
According to This Old House, if you fail to perform this yearly maintenance before winter starts, your furnace can quickly burn itself out and start to pump deadly carbon monoxide into your home. Also, if you’re not testing out your furnace prior to the temps dropping, you could be left without heat and stuck with scheduling emergency maintenance.
Before you call a service professional, there are a few things you can do yourself to prepare your furnace for winter:
- Change the batteries in your thermostat
- Change the air filter if it’s dirty.
- Stock up on air filters during warmer months, there are typically more deals in the summer when they don’t need to be changed as often.
- Clear out the area near your furnace prior to your professional cleaning and inspection.
Once you’ve done these things, you should schedule a seasonal maintenance appointment, which includes:
- Testing for carbon monoxide
- Testing the gas pilot and cleaning
- Checking the motor and fan
- Cleaning burners
- Checking all the piping to the furnace
- Testing the furnace
Your service professional will make sure that your furnace is prepared for the cold winter months ahead. Preventative maintenance is the most important thing you can do to keep your family warm in the winter and avoid costly emergency repairs or replacements. Give Blue Ox a call today to ensure your furnace will be up and running even in -20.
