A Homeowner’s Fall Checklist for Getting the Heating System Ready
There’s always that first morning when you come downstairs and realize the house is colder than it should be. You reach for the thermostat, turn the heat on, and hope everything starts up as usual.
Fall is a much better time to find out if it will.
Before colder weather becomes an everyday occurrence, it’s a good idea to spend a little time checking over your heating system and the parts of the house that affect it. Most of these jobs are small, but they can save you from rushing to deal with a problem on a freezing day.
Put a Fresh Filter In
If you can’t remember the last time you changed the furnace filter, that’s a good place to start.
Pull it out and take a look. A layer of dust or pet hair, for example, means that it’s time for a new one. Restricted airflow makes it harder for the system to move warm air through the house, so this small job is worth keeping on top of during winter too.
Turn the Heat On Now, Not Later
You don’t have to wait until you actually need the heat in order to test it!
Turn the thermostat up a few degrees and let the system run for a while. Walk through a few rooms and check that warm air is coming through the vents and that the temperature is starting to rise.
Listen while it runs. A furnace that suddenly bangs, rattles, squeals, or repeatedly switches itself on and off is giving you a reason to have it checked.
Check the Outdoor Unit
Homes with heat pumps have one more spot to check.
Leaves, grass, weeds, and other yard debris can gather around the outdoor unit. Clear away anything sitting against it or crowding the surrounding area. It needs room for air to move freely.
You may need to repeat this job once the leaves really start falling.
Give Your Alarms a Test
While you’re thinking about heating, it’s a good idea to give the smoke and carbon monoxide alarms a test, too.
Make sure each one works, replace batteries where necessary, and check the age of older alarms. Carbon monoxide has no smell or color, making a working detector particularly important in homes with fuel-burning appliances.
Have the System Checked Before Winter
A professional heating check can catch things like worn components, performance issues, and other problems that aren’t obvious from the outside.
For Minnesota homeowners who want their system looked over before the colder months, Alpha Plumbing, Heating, & Cooling offers heating and HVAC services.
Getting an appointment in fall also leaves time to deal with repairs before the furnace becomes something you depend on every day.
One Last Check Before the Cold Sets In
Once you’ve worked through the entire house, run the heat again and see how everything goes. The furnace should start normally, rooms should warm up, and vents should have a steady airflow.
If something seems different from last year, don’t wait for a bitterly cold night to see whether it gets worse. Fall gives you a useful time period to sort out those little warning signs while going without heat for a few hours is still an inconvenience rather than an emergency. See more.
