How to Prepare Your Furnace for Winter

It may be warm now, but it's not too early to think about your furnace. You don't want to be caught in the cold with a furnace that isn't working properly or isn't working at all. Not only will a poorly functioning furnace do a poor job of keeping your home warm, but if your furnace is not running at maximum efficiency, it will also drive your utilities bills up. 

Unfortunately, most people don't' think about preparing their furnaces for winter until the cold months are already upon them. That means that they'll not only suffer from a cold home and high utilities bill, but also potentially increased wait times for responses from furnace repair specialists. That's another advantage of having your furnace serviced now instead of later. You'll be sure to get your furnace repairs done before you need them, so you won't have to get out the extra blankets and huddle together while you wait for your furnace to be repaired.

 

Never Forget Your Air Filter and Vents

This isn't just for your furnace; it will actually help your air conditioning, too. Replacing your home's air filters once a month will help your HVAC system move air more efficiently through your home, using less power in the process. If you have flat filters, consider upgrading. Talk to a professional HVAC repair contractor about whether a pleated, electrostatic, or HEPA filter would be best for your home.

Next, it's time to clean your ducts and air vents. When dust, debris, and animal dander build up around your vents, air can't get through easily, and the air that does get through is full of particulate matter that's not a lot of fun to breathe. So, take the covers off of your dents, and use the hose attachment for your vacuum cleaner to clean out dust and dirt from the vents. You can also clean off the vents, themselves, with a wet rag or paper towel.

How Is Your Blower?

If your blower belt has cracks in it, it could break, leaving you in a cold and untenable situation this winter, in need of emergency furnace repair. Turn the power to your furnace off by finding its corresponding switch on your breaker box. Then unscrew the air handler's steel cover and pull it off to take a look inside. 

Call the Experts

HVAC experts aren't just there for furnace repair in chicago and des plaines. They're also there to help you out with maintenance. If anything we just mentioned sounds too technical or too involved, don't feel bad. Instead, call the professionals. A professional HVAC contractor can do a full inspection and tune-up on your furnace to make sure it will function properly and efficiently all winter long.

They'll check your filters, clean out your vents and ducts, and check on your blower, air handler, and furnace to make sure that they don't need any repairs before it gets cold. This kind of preventive maintenance will ensure that you don't need furnace repair when you need your furnace working the most. 

While you have them at your home, you can ask the professionals about tips and techniques for keeping your heating bill down this winter. They'll be happy to give you good energy saving suggestions. 

Give us a call today and find out what our furnace services in chicago and des plaines like furnace tune up services, furnace repair service, furnace maintenance services and furnace installation services in chicago and des plaines area can do for you!