Five Things To Do Before You Use Your Furnace For The Cold Season
Posted on: 19 November 2017
Before you start up your furnace for the first cold night, you should take certain steps to make sure that it is in good operating condition. Doing this will help reduce the chances of the furnace breaking down during the winter months and will increase the safety and efficiency of its operation. The following are among the most important things you need to do.
Clean or replace the air filter
If your heating system has a disposable air filter, you need to change this. Don't bother inspecting it. You need to start with a fresh filter when you operate your system. If you have a reusable filter, you will need to clean it thoroughly. Usually a vacuum will get the job done, but it is best to read your owner's manual for any special requirements.
Clean the air ducts and registers
You should remove all of the registers and clean them. You can use long-handled dusters to clean the insides of eh air ducts. Without proper dusting, people with allergies may find it uncomfortable. Even people without allergies may find themselves sneezing. when the heat is turned on.
Inspect and clean the heating system
Exactly what you need to do will depend upon the make and model of the system you have, so you will need to read your owner's manual. For example, if your furnace has a belt for the blower, you need to check it for wear. Most of the cleaning is simply removing dust and can be done with a vacuum. The last thing you need to do is make sure the pilot light is lit. If not, follow the manufacturer's instructions for lighting the flame.
Check for airflow and heat
Once your furnace is turned on you need to do is make sure that the air is flowing out of all of the vents. You will be able to tell just by the feel of the hand whether there is a major problem or not. You also need to make sure there is hot air flowing.
Check your thermostat
The last thing you need to do is make sure your heat clicks on. Set your thermostat setting to a temperature much lower than your internal temperature of your home. Slowly turn up the thermostat setting. When it reaches the temperature of you home, it should turn on.
Depending upon your make and model, some of the things that need to be serviced may not have the skills to perform, but this isn't a problem. HVAC technicians do this type of work routinely, and working off of a checklist for your particular type of furnace, they can make sure that your heating system is ready for the cold season.
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