You don’t want to find out that your furnace isn’t working to it’s best capabilities when it’s November and -20 outside. The best way to afford a mid-Winter breakdown is by keeping up with maintenance and upkeep right before fall begins and the temperatures start sinking lower. Here are four key things to check on before your heater kicks into overdrive for the cold months:
The filter
First things first, take a look at the filter. If your filter is clogged or dirty, it’s going to restrict the flow of comfortable warm air coming from your furnace. It will then have to work twice as hard to produce half as much heat for your home. Replace your furnace filters before the fall season every year to keep things clear and ready to work.
The area around your heater
More often than not, heaters are located in the basement. Basements attract a lot of things, since they’re the most common storage area in most homes. Because of this, during the off season, it’s not uncommon to find flammable objects being stacked and stored near a heater. Before switching yours on for the fall months, go and make sure nothing flammable is in close quarters with it so you can avoid potential disaster. Objects to consider moving include: clothing, cardboard boxes, aerosol canisters, and anything you think could go up in flames without a lot of help.
Your home vents
This might seem to be an obvious thing to check before switching your furnace on for the cooler months, but you’d be surprised how frequently people find themselves forgetting their vents. Check your home vents for obstruction by furniture or other household items. A single vent-blocking chair can cause you a lot of grief come October, so get it out of the way before it becomes a problem.
All the small parts of your blower
Your furnace’s blower does a lot of work, and to make sure that work is done properly we recommend taking a look at a few key parts of your blower to guarantee it’s ready for the fall. First, check on the blower doors. If they’re in need of replacing, you’re going to want to know before they’re put to work because their job is to keep combustion byproducts like carbon monoxide separate from the air being circulated through your home. Nobody wants to breathe in CO2, even if it’s toasty warm. Second, look at the blower belt. Check to make sure it’s fitted and not loose. A loose, frayed, or cracked belt can increase the time it takes to get your furnace working properly, which costs more and keeps you chilly for longer than you’ll like.
At Blue Ox Heating & Air, we understand how to keep your heating systems running in tip-top shape year round, so add a visit from one of our experts to your furnace maintenance checklist for the best possible performance this fall and winter. Call today to schedule an appointment or speak with one of our technicians!
