5 Tips To Prepare Your Heater For Winter
As the weather starts to get colder, you need to make sure that your heater is ready for winter. This is the perfect time to do some heating maintenance. To prepare your furnace for winter, keep the following tips in mind.
1. Clean Around the Furnace and Vents
During the warm months, you may have set items on top of the vents or near your furnace. To protect yourself from fire hazards and to make sure warm air can get through your vents, make sure to clean these areas before you fire up the furnace.
2. Fill Up Your Tank
If you have a gas-powered furnace and a propane tank, get your tank filled before winter starts. The prices of fuel are influenced by supply and demand, and typically, you can save by buying in the warmer months when there is less demand.
In that same vein, if you have a pellet stove, you should stock up on pellets as well. If you have electric heat or get gas from an energy provider, you may also want to set cash aside so that you can handle your higher bills in the winter.
3. Test Your Furnace
Don't wait for the first frost to try out your furnace. Make sure it's working now. Turn up the thermostat and see if the furnace responds. If it doesn't come on, it's time to call in the HVAC pros.
4. Change the Filter
Ideally, you should change the filter before the heating season starts. Some filters need to be removed and washed, while others just need to be replaced. As a general rule of thumb, most homeowners should change their furnace filters at least once a year, but this varies.
If you have a lot of people, dust, or pets in your home, your filter may get clogged faster and need to be changed more often. When your filter is clogged, air can't get through your system as effectively, and this can decrease efficiency and lead to repair issues.
5. Look for Leaks
Finally, take the time to look around your home for air leaks. Can air get in around door or window frames? If so, invest in weather stripping. Do you see holes in your foundation? Consider sealing them with expanding foam.
Although this doesn't directly relate to furnace maintenance, it's important to support your furnace. If you have a drafty home, your furnace will have to work extra hard and that will drive up your bills.
For more information about heating maintenance before winter, contact a local HVAC professional.