5 Tips for Prepping Your Heating Equipment for Winter

The fall season is in full swing with leaves starting to change color and the temperatures growing cooler. Sooner than we know it, winter will be here. Now is the perfect time to make sure your heating equipment is ready for the winter before you need it. There are a few simple tasks that most homeowners can do without needing a professional HVAC technician. Here are some tips for prepping your heating equipment so that it is ready for the winter months.

Five Tips To Prepare Your Heating System For Winter

1. Change Your Furnace Air Filter
   Replacing furnace air filters only takes a few minutes to do and is the easiest way to improve overall air quality in your home. Air filters typically only cost a few dollars and are readily available at home improvement stores. They should be replaced at least every 3 months but you should check it once a month. If the filter contains a higher than usual amount of dust and dirt, changing it more often will help improve air quality in your home. Dirty air filters can force your HVAC system to work harder, causing unnecessary wear and tear on the system.
2. Check Your DuctworkBy spending an hour or two resealing and re-insulating your ductwork, you can improve duct efficiency by up to 20%. Pay attention in particular to the seams and connections. Wrap the ductwork in insulation to protect them further. Sealed ductwork can help improve air quality and improve home safety by ensuring proper exit airflow of combustion gases.
3. Unblock Your VentsTake a walk through your home and make sure all of your vents are unobstructed. Make sure there is clear space around each vent opening to ensure a healthy amount of airflow. When vents are blocked, your HVAC system has to work harder to circulate the air. Your HVAC system can overheat, causing a potential fire hazard and damaging heating system components.
4. Clear the Area Around Your FurnaceYour heating system will naturally generate heat and combustion gases as it functions normally. Prevent a hazardous situation by creating plenty of open space around your heating system including the furnace, boiler, all pipes, and ductwork. Random items left around the unit can prevent the unit from cooling down properly or can fall, causing unit components to malfunction or disconnect, creating fire hazards or even carbon monoxide leaks.
5. Test Your ThermostatTest your heating system and your thermostat. Turn the system on to make sure it is working and change the battery in your thermostat. If you need to upgrade your thermostat, perhaps to a programmable unit, now would be a good time. Since you are already changing the batteries in critical home components, it would also be a great time to change the batteries in your home’s smoke alarms.

Get Your Heating System Inspection

If your heating system doesn’t come on when you test your thermostat or if it makes any odd sounds, call our parent company Tragar Home Services to check out your home heating system. Your home heating system might only need a simple tune-up or it could need serious repair. We offer full-service repairs and can provide high-efficiency heating equipment upgrades if necessary.

By being proactive and getting your heating system inspected during the off-season, you can save money by avoiding emergency service. Express C.O.D has highly trained technicians who are qualified to repair both gas heat systems and oil heat systems so give us a call today at (516) 221-2559.