Here comes the snow, ice, and bitter cold nights. Is your furnace ready? Chances are you haven’t even thought about it yet, but now is the time to act. The winter season will be here soon enough and if you do not prepare your heating equipment you may find yourself without heat on a below zero night.

However, there is still time to act and get your unit in shape. There are several checks that you should make as an educated homeowner to get your unit ready for the upcoming change.

Points to Check

Check the thermostat-

This is one of the easiest checks to make for your unit. All you have to do is change the batteries (if your thermostat runs on batteries), set the differential, and set a program for winter (if your thermostat is programmable). The differential controls how many degrees of difference there will be between the temperature you set and the actually temperature in the home. A program is a good energy and money saving tool because it controls when the unit will run and at what temperature depending on the time of day.

Change the air filter-

A dirty or clogged air filter can cause damage to your furnace by restricting air flow. Because of the restriction, the furnace will have to work harder and use more fuel then normal to get the home to the temperature set on the thermostat. Over time this will cost you more money in energy bills, and maybe even cause the unit to need replacement prematurely.

Check the CO detectors-

Whether you have a furnace or a boiler, both are a possible source of carbon monoxide. All it takes is a crack in the heat exchanger to leak CO into your breathing air. You must make sure that your detectors are working and replace batteries if they haven’t been replaced in a while. It’s a simple step that can save you and your family’s lives.

Test the Furnace-

• Make sure the switch on the furnace is in the “On” position
• Check fuses or breaker- replace of flip on if needed
• Turn the thermostat to “heat” and fan setting to “auto”
• Turn the temperature up a few degrees and allow the unit to run for a couple hours
• If there is a gas smell- call a HVAC company or the gas company as soon as possible
• If there is a burning smell, it is probably just the dust and debris in the furnace burning off

Get your yearly maintenance done- This process should be done by a certified HVAC technician. A tune-up will prevent unwanted repairs in the middle of the season, and it will get the unit running as efficiently as possible.

Some of the steps may include:

• Clean furnace or boiler
• Check chimney base
• Clean and check pilots
• Adjust pilot
• Check Thermocouple
• Clean burners
• Adjust burners
• Check fan belts
• Check amperage draw
• Check furnace filters
• Check safety devices
• Check heat anticipators
• Check thermostat contacts
• Check limit control
• Inspect combustion chamber
• Check blower wheel
• Check blower motor and lube
• Check furnace wiring
• Check for combustion air
• Check hot water tank
• Check gas valve operation
• Test for gas leaks
• Check humidifier
• Check electrical connections
• Inspect heat exchanger for leaks
• Check motors and oil if necessary
• Check any/all accessories
• Check and secure all panels
• Check thermostat and calibrate if necessary

When you have completed these steps, you are ready for Mother Nature to bring on the winter!

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