How to Prepare Your Furnace for Cold Weather

Having a properly functioning furnace during the cold season saves energy and helps prevent fire accidents from happening. Thus, it’s important to have your furnace inspected and repaired before the cold weather arrives. Follow these tips to learn how to prepare your furnace for winter:

1. Have your furnace serviced before the cold season begins. Hire a professional to inspect and determine what needs to be repaired or replaced in your heating system to ensure your furnace works properly.

2. Replace the air filter every month or so, depending on the manufacturer’s specifications. Furnace filters should be clean to prevent air contamination in your home and other hazards. If you have a flat filter, consider upgrading to a HEPA, electrostatic or pleated filter.

3. Check and clean air vents and ducts. Use your vacuum to remove the dust in your air vents and ducts or hire a professional to do it for you. Clean ducts help prevent health problems and improve furnace efficiency.

4. Inspect the exhaust vent and remove any obstructions that may block the airflow, such as rodent nests or snow. Clogged up vents may cause furnace malfunctions and safety issues too.

5. Check the blower belt and blower motor. Make sure the blower belt isn’t loose or cracked and replace it if you notice these problems. The blower motor should be oiled once a year.

6. Make sure your thermostat works as intended. Check that it responds as soon as you start it up. Replace your manual thermostat with a set-back type, which can automatically turn down the temperature when you’re asleep or away, reducing the energy consumption.

7. Remove items around the furnace. Some items can catch fire when they’re placed near a gas burning device, such as your furnace. Unclutter the space around your furnace before the cold season begins, to reduce fire hazards.

8. Unblock heating vents if they are obstructed. Move any furniture or other objects that may block your vents to allow the air to circulate in your home and prevent fires from occurring.

You can do all these maintenance tasks in just a few hours. However, don’t try to tackle the job yourself if you’re not experienced with furnace maintenance. Hire a professional to safely handle the work for you. For professional vent and duct cleaning or fire, water and mold remediation services, contact your local PuroClean office.