The weather is starting to cool down and fall is officially
here. Each season, there are different things homeowners need to do in order to
ensure safety and comfort in their home. Royal Heating & Air is here
to help you with these tasks. Get your home ready for the cold weather and
holiday season by checking off these fall furnace maintenance tasks provided by
the best HVAC company at the Lake of the Ozarks. These tasks will help ensure
that your home will be safe and cozy this fall and winter.
Fall Furnace Maintenance
Schedule Furnace Maintenance
Your heating and cooling system should be checked twice a
year. Once in the spring before the heat of summer, and once in the fall before
the cold of winter. Heating systems, such as fireplaces and furnaces that
aren’t routinely checked are not only inefficient, but they can be dangerous as
well. The older your HVAC system, the more important routine checks are.
Also, many manufacturer’s warranties require regular annual
tune-ups for their warranties to remain in effect.
When you schedule your professional service during the
interim seasons, your system performs better and is able to withstand the daily
usage that is necessary to keep your family comfortable and safe in the months
with extreme weather. Think of your HVAC system like your car. You would never
wait until your car breaks down to have it serviced. The same should go for your
HVAC system. Your furnace or boiler needs annual tune-ups and it’s best to do
it in the fall before the cold weather really hits.
DIY Furnace Maintenance
Professional maintenance once a year is important, but it’s
also important to conduct some basic DIY maintenance of your own. Here are some
common tasks you should be performing:
Clean and change the air filter every 30-60 days.
You should never wait more than 90 days to replace your
filter. Clean air filters improve energy efficiency and improve airflow, they
also help to clean and filter your indoor air. Because of this, it’s important
to make sure the air filters are clean. You can usually find your filter in a
pull-out access door near the front of the furnace.
Seal gaps and cracks around windows and doors.
One way to save money on rising energy bills during the cold
winter months is to ensure that your windows and doors have been properly
sealed, weather-stripped, or caulked. By keeping the heat in and the cold out,
your heater won’t have to work so hard to keep your home comfortable. Another
thing you can add for extra insulation is shades or blinds.
Keep your vents and registers unobstructed and open.
Closing vents and registers can cause unnecessary buildup in
your ductwork. This can cause duct leaks and other inefficiencies. Make sure
there are no rugs, furniture, or any other objects blocking your vents.
DIY Furnace Safety
The number one danger of a failing heating system is a
carbon monoxide leak. This is one reason why you should schedule heating
maintenance early. Here are some ways to keep your family safe:
Install carbon monoxide detectors on every level of the home and outside of each bedroom.
CO detectors should be installed just like smoke detectors;
this means they should be installed in all of the major areas in your home.
It’s also a good idea to test all of your CO and smoke detectors once a month.
Make sure there is nothing combustible within 6 inches of
your ventilation pipe.
Periodically inspect your vent pipes to make sure there is
nothing obstructing them, such as leaves, snow, or even bird nests. All
fuel-burning systems need ventilation for proper safety.
Maintain a minimum 3-foot clearance around your furnace,
fireplace, and other heat sources.
Keep the area around heaters unobstructed and free from any
flammable items. You should also never store any paint, chemicals, gasoline or
any other combustible material anywhere near your furnace.
We hope this list helps you and your fall furnace
maintenance. Royal Heating & Air knows that annual professional maintenance
will ensure that your home is safe and cozy this fall and winter.
Royal Heating & Air - "The King of Comfort"
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