You would never leave your car sitting for six months without maintenance, would you? Complicated machines need maintenance to make sure they work when you need them. This is also very true when it comes to your furnace. Furnaces sit all summer and more without use, and often, without maintenance. Even worse, many homes do not plan ahead and test their furnace before winter! Especially in the Mid-Atlantic region, if you wait until winter to have your furnace examined, you may be waiting for a while. The smart thing to do is to test and maintain your furnace and heating system before you really need it, and as the days get shorter and cooler now is the perfect time to do it!
Below are some simple steps you can follow to get your heating system ready for the cold months. Take advantage of a cool day to keep your home warm this winter!
1. Clean or replace the filter.
First thing’s first, one of the most important and simple ways to keep your HVAC system in top shape is by maintaining the filters. Filters that are properly chosen and cleaned/replaced can have a huge impact on your energy costs, the quality of air in your home, and the efficiency of your system. Filters should be replaced or cleaned, depending on your type of filter, about every three months. By keeping your filters maintained, you will not only have your home more primed for winter, but you will even benefit if you experience fall allergies!
2. Check the blower belt and oil the blower motor.
Just like in a car, belts and oil are two mainstays of HVAC system maintenance. Belts can dry and fray because of increased exposure to outdoor air, and can cause your system to heat your home slowly. Similarly, if left without lubrication, your HVAC motor can also damage itself because of increased friction and wear on the parts. Both of these issues can result in larger damages over time, so it is best to address them sooner rather than later. Check your belts to see if they are worn or frayed, and add a drop of oil to your blower motor, as according to your owner’s manual. If you have any further questions, contact Warner Service to have a technician find the right adjustments for your individual system.
3. Make sure blower doors are sealed.
Examining your blower doors is an extremely important step in preparing your home for winter. Blower doors ensure that combustion gasses produced by your heat system (especially carbon monoxide) exit your home safely without putting your family at risk. Carbon monoxide is called the “silent killer” because it is undetectable by humans alone. Be sure to have a carbon monoxide detector in your home as well as check your blower doors to ensure they are sealed and safe.
4. Check to see that vents in the house allow air to flow.
Your home’s vents make sure that the air inside your home can be circulated properly. Thermostats are set to specific settings to make sure that your home’s air is circulated and heated properly to keep your HVAC system working efficiently. If vents are not allowing air to flow, because of an obstruction or because of clogged filters, your HVAC system will need to work extra hard to heat all the areas of your home evenly. This leads to even higher energy bills and more headaches from an easily solved problem. Simply examine your vents and ensure that air can pass through.
5. Check to see that the exhaust flue to the outside is clear of obstructions and in good condition from the furnace to the roof cap with all connections securely fastened.
Similar to our tip about blower doors, keeping combustible gasses out of your living space is essential to your home’s safety. You can check your exhaust flue by removing the flue cap near the furnace and water heater and looking through the flue to the outside. Ensure you replace the flue cap securely. If your furnace and the water heater are in an enclosed room or closet, make sure they get plenty of air. These appliances need ten cubic feet of air for one cubit foot of natural gas to operate properly. Furnace rooms or closets should have door louvers or vents or a duct directly to the outside to provide sufficient combustion air.
6. Remove all flammable objects from around your furnace and water heater.
This tip seems obvious, but can be very dangerous for your home. Make sure that paper products, boxes, aerosols, and other flammable products are kept away from your furnace and water heater, especially if your furnace and water heater are kept in a small room.
Finally, if you have any questions or need further assistance in testing and maintaining your HVAC system, give Warner Service a call. One of their certified technicians will visit your home to examine your individual HVAC system and get your home ready for winter in no time!
You would never leave your car sitting for six months without maintenance, would you? Complicated machines need maintenance to make sure they work when you need them. This is also very true when it comes to your furnace. Furnaces sit all summer and more without use, and often, without maintenance. Even worse, many homes do not plan ahead and test their furnace before winter! Especially in the Mid-Atlantic region, if you wait until winter to have your furnace examined, you may be waiting for a while. The smart thing to do is to test and maintain your furnace and heating system before you really need it, and as the days get shorter and cooler now is the perfect time to do it!
Below are some simple steps you can follow to get your heating system ready for the cold months. Take advantage of a cool day to keep your home warm this winter!
1. Clean or replace the filter.
First thing’s first, one of the most important and simple ways to keep your HVAC system in top shape is by maintaining the filters. Filters that are properly chosen and cleaned/replaced can have a huge impact on your energy costs, the quality of air in your home, and the efficiency of your system. Filters should be replaced or cleaned, depending on your type of filter, about every three months. By keeping your filters maintained, you will not only have your home more primed for winter, but you will even benefit if you experience fall allergies!
2. Check the blower belt and oil the blower motor.
Just like in a car, belts and oil are two mainstays of HVAC system maintenance. Belts can dry and fray because of increased exposure to outdoor air, and can cause your system to heat your home slowly. Similarly, if left without lubrication, your HVAC motor can also damage itself because of increased friction and wear on the parts. Both of these issues can result in larger damages over time, so it is best to address them sooner rather than later. Check your belts to see if they are worn or frayed, and add a drop of oil to your blower motor, as according to your owner’s manual. If you have any further questions, contact Warner Service to have a technician find the right adjustments for your individual system.
3. Make sure blower doors are sealed.
Examining your blower doors is an extremely important step in preparing your home for winter. Blower doors ensure that combustion gasses produced by your heat system (especially carbon monoxide) exit your home safely without putting your family at risk. Carbon monoxide is called the “silent killer” because it is undetectable by humans alone. Be sure to have a carbon monoxide detector in your home as well as check your blower doors to ensure they are sealed and safe.
4. Check to see that vents in the house allow air to flow.
Your home’s vents make sure that the air inside your home can be circulated properly. Thermostats are set to specific settings to make sure that your home’s air is circulated and heated properly to keep your HVAC system working efficiently. If vents are not allowing air to flow, because of an obstruction or because of clogged filters, your HVAC system will need to work extra hard to heat all the areas of your home evenly. This leads to even higher energy bills and more headaches from an easily solved problem. Simply examine your vents and ensure that air can pass through.
5. Check to see that the exhaust flue to the outside is clear of obstructions and in good condition from the furnace to the roof cap with all connections securely fastened.
Similar to our tip about blower doors, keeping combustible gasses out of your living space is essential to your home’s safety. You can check your exhaust flue by removing the flue cap near the furnace and water heater and looking through the flue to the outside. Ensure you replace the flue cap securely. If your furnace and the water heater are in an enclosed room or closet, make sure they get plenty of air. These appliances need ten cubic feet of air for one cubit foot of natural gas to operate properly. Furnace rooms or closets should have door louvers or vents or a duct directly to the outside to provide sufficient combustion air.
6. Remove all flammable objects from around your furnace and water heater.
This tip seems obvious, but can be very dangerous for your home. Make sure that paper products, boxes, aerosols, and other flammable products are kept away from your furnace and water heater, especially if your furnace and water heater are kept in a small room.
Finally, if you have any questions or need further assistance in testing and maintaining your HVAC system, give Warner Service a call. One of their certified technicians will visit your home to examine your individual HVAC system and get your home ready for winter in no time!
- See more at: http://warnerservice.com/six-quick-tips-to-prepare-your-heating-system-for-winter/#sthash.EnjcGrgE.dpuf