Preparing Your Home Furnace For Fall

Written on: October 7, 2019

Fall has been a little slow to arrive this year in Tunkhannock, PA – welcome news for some, not so welcome news for those of us who love the colors and smells of autumn. But as we all know, the arrival of cool weather is inevitable – and when it does arrive, you’ll be relying more and more on your furnace to keep your family safe and comfortable in your Pennsylvania home.
Before the cold weather really hits, it’s a good idea to get ahead on some of the tasks that will help your forced-air heating system to operate reliably well in the coming months.
Here are seven things you can do right now to prepare your heating oil- or propane-fired furnace and heating system for cooler weather:

7 heating system to-dos in preparation for cold season

1. Check your air filters regularly – A dirty air filter can restrict airflow, causing your system to overwork to heat your home; that overwork decreases energy efficiency, shortens equipment life, and increases the likelihood of a having a heating system breakdown. Check your air filter once a month during heating season, replacing it (or cleaning it, depending on the model) when needed.
2. Keep vents clear – Do a quick run-through of your home to make sure no drapes, carpeting, furniture, or other objects are blocking your vents.
3. Clean return air registers – Return air vents are an important and often overlooked part of a forced air heating system. These vents allow the air that is circulating in your home to return to the system to be re-heated and re-filtered to maintain proper temperature and air quality in your PA home. Keep them dust free to maintain efficiency and indoor air quality.
4. Install a programmable or smart thermostat – Your thermostat is the “brain” of your home heating system, and a key to energy savings for your home. Program your thermostat to manage heat when you’re home, asleep or away and you could save as much as 10 percent on your heating bill in the coming months, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.
5. Test all smoke, CO, and propane monitors – Test the batteries on all home comfort alarms at least twice a year to make sure everything is in working order. A good rule of thumb is to test them when you change your clocks during fall and spring (coming up on November 3).
6. Get your heating equipment serviced – The most important thing you can do for your heating system is to have it professionally maintained at least once per year. Expert heating maintenance will help your equipment run more efficiently and reliably, prevent costly repairs, and even keep your warranty in place.

If you haven’t gotten your annual heating maintenance yet this year, now is the time! Contact us today to schedule your heating tune-up or to sign up for a high value Ace-Robbins Service Plan.