January 20, 2023
Furnace repair in Owen Sound, ON to prepare for winter

Winter is right around the corner, bringing with it harsh temperatures. Maintaining a warm atmosphere in your home is critical for your family’s comfort. No matter how comfy your fireplace and blankets are, you’ll want to be sure your heating system is ready for the cold season. Now is the moment to consider what steps you can take to prepare your heating system for the upcoming cold winter. Learn how to keep your furnace in perfect shape this winter.

Change Your Furnace Filter

Every heating system includes an air filter and performs a critical function. It keeps the furnace clean and protects it from being blocked by capturing airborne irritants and pollutant particles before they can enter your furnace’s inner components.

However, since all these particulates must go someplace, they will ultimately accumulate to the point where the air filter is so full of them that your furnace is unable to draw filtered air through it. This has the potential to cause the heating system to malfunction completely and can soon become quite taxing on it. You should inspect the condition of your air filter once a month.

Schedule Professional Duct Cleaning

Air ducts are a crucial component of your heating system. The furnace uses these ducts to distribute warm air throughout the home. When ducts are clean and in good condition, the furnace will have no trouble distributing warm air efficiently and keeping the air clean.

However, if an excessive amount of dust, grime, pet dander, or other material gets into the ducts, your furnace may have trouble distributing heat. This additional effort won’t be good for the furnace and may increase the maintenance cost. The beginning of winter is a great opportunity to hire an HVAC specialist for comprehensive duct cleaning.

Clean the Vents

The heated air that your furnace circulates ultimately finds its way to the various vents in your house, where it is dispersed to the various rooms of the building. Unfortunately, dust and grime can gradually build up on and inside the vents, which can degrade the interior air quality and prevent your furnace from dispersing heat effectively. Make sure nothing obstructs the vent holes and use a moist cloth to clean the openings.

Invest in a Humidifier

During the colder months, air tends to be dry, making it much more difficult to transmit heat properly. Your home will consequently start to feel noticeably colder as the air dries out, forcing you to depend more on your furnace.

A humidifier replenishes a large portion of the moisture, restoring the air’s capacity to conduct heat and helping you remain warm while relieving strain on your furnace.

Change Thermostat Batteries and Reprogram the Thermostat

Replace the batteries in your thermostat at the start of each cold season. Fresh thermostat batteries ensure you don’t wake up shivering on a chilly winter morning because the thermostat isn’t working and hasn’t prompted the furnace to begin heating. And your heating will not have to work as hard to restore a pleasant temperature.

It is also critical to reprogram the thermostat. Set up a schedule that works for you throughout the winter months. For instance, set your thermostat to turn on 20 minutes before waking up if you want a warmer house in the morning. If you are planning to be away from home, set the thermostat to a lower temperature and then raise the temperature when you return. This conserves energy and reduces furnace wear and tear, saving you money.

Schedule Furnace Maintenance

You should aim to keep up with regular maintenance tune-ups to ensure your furnace is healthy and energy efficient. The start of winter is perhaps the most critical time to schedule one. A heating specialist will make changes that will allow your heating system to function more effectively and consistently provide you with heat. This is especially crucial because you will likely rely on the appliance a lot during the chilly season.

The specialist will also look for any faults or components nearing the end of their useful life so that you may take preventive actions. This is critical since the last thing you want to deal with during the wintertime is a furnace malfunction. A tune-up will improve your winter comfort, and regular tune-ups will increase your heating system’s longevity and overall health.

Trust the Experts

Get peace of mind by enlisting the help of a certified professional to perform a system check to prevent any possible issues. Contact Hy-Mark for all your Guelph, ON, home comfort needs this winter. We also provide efficient air conditioning, air purification, and plumbing services.

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