What to Look Out for When Starting Up Your Heater

When the temperatures drop and you need to turn on your home’s heating system once again, there’s a lot you’ll want to be on the lookout for before firing it up. Some of them might seem silly and simple, while others are things you’ve likely not considered before. All of them are important steps to take because they can save you a lot of time, money and maintenance heartache when you’re turning on your heater for the winter:

• Change all filters: You should change your air filters at least every few months regardless, but it’s a good idea to start off with fresh ones when the new cold season is just starting up. Swapping the old ones out for nice new ones is an easy thing to check before turning on your furnace.
• Clean the burners: During the long months where your furnace is out of service, dust can collect on the burners. This usually isn’t a safety concern, but it can lead to unpleasant odors when you turn on your heater for the winter and the dust burns off. Avoid this by cleaning them first—this also gives you the chance to look for any issues that might require the services of an HVAC professional.
• Uncover the heating vents: When you’re moving around furniture during more temperate conditions, it’s easy to forget that you might be covering up vents that aren’t currently in use. However, once it gets cold out, you’re going to want to be sure every vent can flow freely and create a comfortable environment. When turning your heater on for the winter, you should first do a quick check and make sure all vents in the home are unobstructed.
• Test safety devices: Devices like smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors can save your life in a crisis, but only if they’re in good working order, so they’re a critical thing to check before turning on your furnace. Make sure they’re all functioning properly—this is also a good time to swap in fresh batteries (if applicable), whether they need them or not.
• Schedule an inspection: Finally, it’s not a bad idea to let a professional take a look at your system before you turn on your heater for the winter. At KVK Inc., our technicians are trained to inspect and service all different types of systems, and we’ll be able to tell you if they spot any problems that might need immediate attention. Furthermore, an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure—we might catch some things early on that only require cheap fixes but would have led to massive repairs if they’d gone unaddressed.

The cold winter months and shorter days can certainly wear on people, but having a furnace working at peak efficiency and keeping your family comfortable is a great way to beat those winter blues. Schedule an appointment with us today, before you turn on your heater for the winter, and let us earn your business and your trust.

Categorised in: Furnace Repair

This post was written by Writer