Make Sure Your Heater Works Before Winter Strikes
We love fall on the east coast. The weather cools off, the leaves change color, and all in all, it’s a gorgeous season. As we move away from using our air conditioning, you may find that you don’t yet need your heating system. However, October is the perfect time to test your heating system and ensure it’s working efficiently.
Our top three reasons to have your heating system serviced in October:
- Small problems can be caught and corrected before the cold weather hits
- It can be easier to get a maintenance or repair appointment in the fall
- Seasonal maintenance can improve energy efficiency, helping you reduce your winter utility costs
How to Check Your Heater or Furnace Before Winter
As a homeowner, it is always a good idea to get into the habit of checking over your heating system every fall to ensure that it is working correctly. We recommended going through the below checklist before the weather gets too cold. This way, if you uncover any issues, you can schedule heater repair now and avoid dealing with a breakdown during the winter when you really need your heater working.
Fall heater prep checklist:
- Change your air filters (this should be done every three to four months, or more frequently if you have pets, allergies, or asthma)
- Make sure all heat vents and registers are open, clean, pointing in the correct direction, and not blocked by furniture
- Turn your thermostat to heat and make sure your heater turns on
- Pay attention to how long it takes the heater to bring your home to the correct temperature
- Go around your house and check for even cooling, room to room
- Pay attention to any strange sounds or smells coming from your heating system
- Note if your heater is turning on and off quickly without reaching the correct temperature (this is called short cycling)
Homeowners should also go through their homes and check that their smoke and CO2 detectors are in good working order. Testing each detector shouldn’t take more than a minute. We also recommend changing detector batteries at least once a year.
The above checklist can also help you prepare for your annual maintenance visit with Donmar Heating, Cooling & Plumbing. As you work through this list, make notes of any issues or questions that come up. Go over these with your heater maintenance technician during your maintenance appointment.
Why You Also Need Professional Maintenance
While familiarizing yourself with your heating system is incredibly important, scheduling routine maintenance with a professional heating specialist is just as important. As the person who uses your system every day, you are particularly tuned into how your system normally operates. Meanwhile, our heater maintenance technicians have detailed knowledge of how heating systems work and how to improve their overall performance.
Benefits of scheduling professional heater maintenance annually include the following:
- Your entire system will be cleaned thoroughly and more extensively than you can do yourself
- An experienced HVAC professional will look for signs of wear and tear on your system, proactively making repairs and replacing worn-out parts before your system fails
- Small issues that may escape the average homeowner can be caught, improving the reliability and efficiency of your system
- You get dedicated time with an HVAC professional to ask questions and get tips on getting the most out of your heating system
Scheduling annual maintenance is an easy way to protect your heating system and ensure it is ready for winter. Being proactive regarding heater and furnace maintenance can also save you money in repairs and early replacement costs and help you extend the lifespan of your existing system.
Ready to schedule your fall heater maintenance? Call Donmar Heating, Cooling & Plumbing.