Furnace Maintenance Tips for Fall

gas furnace and water tank Cold weather is on its way, and it’s nearly time to turn on your furnace to beat winter’s chill. Are your heating systems ready for an arctic blast? Here are some furnace maintenance tips for you to help get your system ready to run smoothly and safely all winter long.

1. Clean Your Outdoor HVAC Unit

Dirt and cobwebs are the enemy for your outdoor HVAC systems, compounded by autumn’s falling leaves. Not only does debris prevent your unit from running efficiently, accumulated dirt and dust can be a fire hazard. Sweep or hose off your unit, and make sure to remove all debris on the ground around it.

2. Replace Batteries in Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarms

Set a reminder to replace the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms every six months, and check that they are in good working order. Many people use daylight saving time’s beginning and end dates to change the batteries in these alarms.

Remember that carbon monoxide is a lethal by-product of combustion from gas, oil, and wood burning heat sources, and that it can’t be detected without an alarm. The CDC estimates that 50,000 people across the nation are victims of CO poisoning, and at least 430 of these will lose their lives after exposure.

3. Clean Vents and Flues

Even the tiniest amounts of dust or debris can negatively affect your heating system’s efficiency. Make sure to vacuum pet hair out of registers and away from baseboard heating units. This is the perfect time to clean your chimney flue and remove blockages that may result in a deadly CO backup in your home.

4. Consider a Whole Home Humidifier

Your furnace may keep you comfortable, but it also removes humidity from your home. A whole home humidifier not only makes your family comfortable, it can also reduce viruses by 30%, decrease respiratory issues, and improve your sleep.

A whole home humidifier will also eliminate the “shock” from touching a metal object, a family member, or your pet’s nose!

5. Check Your Thermostat

A properly calibrated thermostat will increase your home’s energy efficiency. The best way to ensure your thermostat is working properly is to check the indoor temperature on display, and turn it up to see if it triggers the furnace to turn on. If your furnace comes on but blows cold air, call a professional to look over your HVAC system.

If you have an old, outdated thermostat, swap it out for a money saving programmable one that allows you to automatically set temperatures throughout the day for maximum savings on your energy bills.

6. Schedule a Professional Preventive Maintenance Visit

While you can do these tasks yourself, it’s still important to schedule a professional to come out and perform basic preventive maintenance on your HVAC systems. These inspections will extend the lifespan of your equipment and any warranties covering it while increasing your furnace’s efficiency and lowering your energy bills.

Join Holtzople’s Comfort Club to receive complete preventive maintenance services, 24/7 priority emergency services, and free or discounted covered repairs.

Testimonials

Holtzople was excellent. Everyone I came in contact with was extremely professional. Brad, Matt, Jerimiah, Andre, Melissa, and Kelly were all a pleasure to work with. The work was completed on time. The staff worked as a team and built on the expertise of one another. They were more than willing to answer questions and provide instruction on the use of the system. I felt that they were there for me and not rushing out to another call. The job site was cleaned after the work and looked better than when they arrived. I highly recommend Holtzople for all of your cooling and heating needs.

Robert SiepielskiWaynesboro, PA

We Service