Have you performed your annual furnace maintenance yet this fall?
As winter quickly approaches, you want to ensure that your furnace will continue working properly throughout the cold season. The last thing you want is to flip on the heater on the first cold night just to realize something isn’t working.
Pre-season furnace maintenance helps you prolong the life of your furnace, ensuring that it keeps you warm throughout the entire winter.
At Dave Lane’s Hi-Tech Mechanical, we provide top-notch heating, cooling, and home performance services throughout the Greater Houston area. Follow these tips to prepare your furnace for winter, stay ahead of potential issues, and enjoy a cozy home throughout the season.
Troubleshoot Your Heating System Early
Troubleshooting your heating system before the winter months start allows you to resolve any issues before the chilly air rolls in. Walk through the steps below during the fall to ensure that your system is still in tip-top shape and ready to take on the chilly winter weather.
Change Out Your Air Filter
Furnace filters require regular replacements every 1-2 months unless you have a reusable type that you can clean. Whichever type you have, you should check your system’s filter and swap it for a fresh one before the upcoming winter season. Clogged or dirty filters reduce airflow, damage the system’s components, and result in poor air quality.
Check Your Thermostat
Next, turn your system from cooling to heating to test your thermostat. If the heat doesn’t automatically switch on, you may have an issue with the thermostat, breaker switch, fuse, or something else. You can troubleshoot these issues by following the steps below.
Check the Furnace Switch and Your Breaker Panel
Newer electronic systems have furnace switches with reset buttons. You can try clicking the reset button to see if that resolves your issue.
Sometimes the issue may route back to a blown fuse or tripped breaker box. You can check your breaker panel and reset the power to see if that restores the heat.
Examine Your Pilot Light and Gas Valve
If you have an older gas furnace, it may have an igniter switch that powers the appliance. Occasionally, you may need to relight this igniter if it goes out by pressing the reset button.
You should also ensure that the gas valve connected to the furnace is on. Many appliances have turning valves for controlling the gas flow that may accidentally close.
Remove Ventilation Obstructions
Once your heat powers on, you want to enjoy as much warmth as possible. Be sure to remove any obstructions blocking the vents, like furniture, blankets, toys, etc. Blocked vents reduce the warm air flow, increase energy bills, and can create fire hazards.
Keep Up with Your Annual Furnace Maintenance Plan
An annual furnace maintenance plan is the best way to keep your furnace blowing hot air for many years. Rather than discovering problems and troubleshooting each autumn, you can hire professionals to check in on your system and finetune each component.
At Dave Lane’s Hi-Tech Mechanical, we provide regular furnace maintenance services with comprehensive performance, safety, and comfort tune-ups. Our fully equipped maintenance team can locate issues and handle any repairs. We’ll check all the items listed above and more to ensure that your system works perfectly throughout the winter.
Contact the Professionals for Expert Furnace Maintenance
As winter approaches, don’t wait to ensure that your furnace works. Contact a heating expert to evaluate your furnace’s performance and safety.
If you live in or around the Greater Houston area, call Dave Lane’s Hi-Tech Mechanical at (713) 960-4269 to schedule a furnace maintenance appointment with our team.