Prepare Your Furnace For Winter

Fall is the perfect time to get your home ready for winter. Your highest priority for this season is heating and that’s where your furnace comes in. Take care of it now so you’ll be spared the freezing consequences later.

1. Replace filters you probably spend most of your time indoors during the cold months. Dirty filters will contaminate the air you breathe, decrease the efficiency of your furnace and overwork your blower. Regular replacement will prevent this problem, and keep your winter breathing clearer.

2. Clear your mechanical room of debris remove unrelated items from the room, particularly flammable items. Make sure to leave the areas around your unit clear for servicing or repair. Concentrate on the area around the duct opening from outside. This outdoor air is critical for your furnace to burn gas completely so you don’t get carbon monoxide in your home when it’s all fired up in winter. 

3. Do visual checks on internal parts like the blower and burners Open your furnace and take a look at the blower belt and motor. Make sure the belt is tight and clean any dust from the motor and blower. This ensures your furnace’s efficiency is maximized and reduces the likelihood of failure when the fan is running at top speed during winter. Inspect your burner and gas connection for signs of corrosion, dirt or loose connections. This is critical for safety of you and your family.

4. Clean ductwork and check for leaks have a Western Technician clean your ductwork before the season starts to keep the air in your home safe and breathable this winter. Turn on your furnace (you can use the fan-only setting on your thermostat) and listen closely for air escaping from ductwork. Note whether there are grilles with not enough air coming through as this can indicate a leak in that branch of your duct system.

5. Clean the area around your flue exhaust as with the combustion air intake, make sure the area around the flue exhaust is clear of debris to keep your furnace working safely and to reduce the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. Remove branches and other debris from the flue outlet and when the snow comes, make sure it’s not piled around your flue vent. If the vent is on the roof, make sure there are no birds’ nests blocking the air from your furnace exhaust.

Have a professional technician from Western Heating & Air Conditioning inspect your furnace. Give us a call at (801) 224-8899 or visit TimeForComfort.com for us to do a full inspection and tune up so your furnace is completely ready for the coming winter.