With the weather in Idaho quickly changing from Fall to Winter, chances are good that you will be turning on your furnace soon. Before you switch on the heat for the season, any homeowner or landlord in charge of furnace maintenance should do these 5 things.
1. Shut Down Your AC
Now that you no longer need your air conditioner, remember to get it ready for winter. Turn the air conditioner completely off by finding the AC breaker outside and turning it to the “off” position.
This will prevent the AC from accidentally turning on if there is a warm spell during the fall. Next, brush the outdoor unit off with a broom, and then lightly spray it with a hose to clean it.
After it is completely dry, cover it with a waterproof cover so that debris doesn’t get stuck in it over the winter.
2. Inspect and Clean Your Furnace
Early in the season, before you actually need your furnace, you will want to perform a visual inspection. Look for signs of rust, corrosion, water leaks, or other damages that may be problematic.
Clean it by dusting the unit, removing residue that has built up, using a vacuum hose attachment to clean vents, removing combustible objects from around the HVAC unit, etc.
After that, it’s time for a heater tune-up! Call a reputable HVAC contractor to do a full inspection of the unit. It’s fast and inexpensive. And, it increases your system’s efficiency, enhances its performance, and reduces the chance of a breakdown.
3. Change the Filter
After a long summer of use, it is a good idea to change the air filter before winter. A clean filter is more energy efficient and will provide cleaner, healthier air for your home. If you don’t want to worry about remembering to change your filter again, sign up for our worry free filter program.
4. Test Your Furnace
While it is still nice outside, you should test your heating system to ensure that it works. During the first cold snap of the year, you do not want to find yourself without heat and waiting in line for HVAC service.
Test it by turning your thermostat up and making sure that it turns on properly. When you first turn it on, you may notice a strange smell.
This is quite common, as the dust and particles burn off after collecting all year. Open your windows and vent the house if needed.
If the smell doesn’t go away quickly, or if something doesn’t seem right, turn it off and call for service.
5. Check Your Detectors
When you are getting ready to turn on your furnace, take the time to check your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. This will ensure that they have good batteries and are working correctly. Protecting your home and loved ones should always be a top priority.
A broken heater can cause a carbon monoxide leak. But, it’s tough to find this on your own. And, unfortunately, people get hit by cracked heat exchanger scammers each year who claim the system is leaking poisonous gas when it’s not.
Be sure to use a well-known HVAC contractor for any furnace repairs or service.
https://pixabay.com/photos/smoke-detector-fire-alarm-burning-315874/
Furnace Service In Kuna, ID
Call Snowflake Air for any furnace service or repair needs in your Kuna, ID home or rental property. We have an excellent reputation throughout Treasure Valley for being reliable experts who get the job done right the first time. Check out our A+ BBB rating and hundreds of five-star google reviews. You can rest assured that you’re in good hands. So don’t hesitate to call (208) 205-9078 today!
Trackbacks/Pingbacks